Giggle
What it means
To laugh in a light, repeated, often playful way.
Reach for it when describing spontaneous amusement that is gentle rather than mocking
The toddlers began to giggle when the puppet sneezed.
Words to choose between 6
| playful |
|
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when a loud unrestrained burst is the intended image
Careful Guffaw is far stronger and less delicate than giggle.
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everyday
Fits when the kind or intensity of amusement does not need specifying
Careful A laugh may be loud, bitter, or derisive instead of light and playful.
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everyday
snicker
Fits when secretive amusement at another person's expense is the fact
Careful Snicker carries mockery, so it is wrong for innocent shared delight.
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warm
Fits when silent visible pleasure matters more than sound
Careful Beaming is an expression, not a form of laughter.
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warm
Fits when quiet, contained amusement suits an adult or reflective moment
Careful A chuckle is lower and steadier than the high repeated sound of a giggle.
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literary
titter
Fits when nervous or restrained group laughter is genuinely meant
Careful Titter often sounds disapproving and may imply laughing at someone.
Opposites 3
- sob
- frown
- scowl
Common phrases 3
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giggle softly
The children giggle softly whenever the clockwork bird bows.
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make someone giggle
One harmless rhyme can make the shyest reader giggle.
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children giggle
Children giggle when both dogs choose the same tiny basket.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Dvortygirl, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 Updated