SMILED Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

smiled

verb

past tense of smile

as in grinned

to express an emotion (as amusement) by curving the lips upward the soldier smiled in pleasure when he saw the giant sign welcoming him home

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in laughed

to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions smiled at their ridiculous antics and walked away in disgust

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of smiled Even Sirianni smiled when a reporter referenced the line after the game. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026 When the video ended, a camera panned to Devers, who smiled and waved to his former fanbase. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2026 In video clips shared online, Zgraggen smiled at the camera and described walking to a beach during the observance. — ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026 Crow’s sons wore suits and smiled in one snap, and then were seen shaking hands with the Pope in the next. — Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026 The mother and son smiled as Sidney wrapped his arm around her neck. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026 Padmini smiled, though this appeared more reflex than friendliness. — Madhuri Vijay, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026 People who once dined together, smiled together, campaigned together and worked together to strengthen our communities are suddenly being portrayed as villains. — Beau Simon, Sun Sentinel, 16 Aug. 2026 For the first five minutes of the Cure‘s headlining set at Øyafestivalen in Oslo, Norway, Robert Smith stared out at the packed crowd and smiled. — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for smiled

Verb

In one photo, the family of four posed together on the beach with Sybil sporting a playful pout while the rest of the bunch grinned.

— Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026
In 2014, Josh Brolin appeared in Hall H, slipped on the Infinity Gauntlet, and grinned.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of grinned

Verb

Nabil and Sliman laughed at how the leather soon stank before Nabil could figure it all out.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026
While the Diamondbacks took batting practice before Tuesday’s game, Banister and Berry laughed together while engaging in a friendly conversation at first base that ended in a hug.

— Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of laughed

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smile

smiled

smiles

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“Smiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smiled. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of smiled

verb

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