: a loud or boisterous burst of laughter
Her remark sparked guffaws around the room.
Synonyms
Examples of guffaw in a Sentence
managed to keep a straight face for a minute before he let loose with a loud guffaw
Recent Examples on the Web
Moviegoers often recite Kidman’s monologue aloud along with her in the darkened theater, to the guffaws and laughter of other patrons.
—
Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
The anecdote elicited more laughter from the audience, as well as guffaws of disbelief.
—Ellie Austin, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024
Her deadpan delivery at the September gathering sparked guffaws from the audience.
—Maria Petrakis, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2023
For the schadenfreude crowd in San Diego, the Chargers’ seventh season since relocation has served up enough tasty pretzels, brews and guffaws to simulate the festive atmosphere of a German beer garden.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Dec. 2023
Your wisdom, humor, loyalty, cooking skills, guffaws, and ice cubes in rose get me through my life.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023
Only the old man responded, with a hearty Santa Claus guffaw.
—Hazlitt, 10 May 2023
Those giggles and guffaws can seem like just silly throwaways.
—Janet M. Gibson, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
Rodriguez says as the crowd gasps and guffaws in disbelief.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 13 Mar. 2023
Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 19 Mar. 2024
The anecdote elicited more laughter from the audience, as well as guffaws of disbelief.
—Ellie Austin, Fortune, 9 Mar. 2024
Her deadpan delivery at the September gathering sparked guffaws from the audience.
—Maria Petrakis, Los Angeles Times, 28 Dec. 2023
For the schadenfreude crowd in San Diego, the Chargers’ seventh season since relocation has served up enough tasty pretzels, brews and guffaws to simulate the festive atmosphere of a German beer garden.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Dec. 2023
Your wisdom, humor, loyalty, cooking skills, guffaws, and ice cubes in rose get me through my life.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 2023
Only the old man responded, with a hearty Santa Claus guffaw.
—Hazlitt, 10 May 2023
Those giggles and guffaws can seem like just silly throwaways.
—Janet M. Gibson, CNN, 1 Apr. 2023
Rodriguez says as the crowd gasps and guffaws in disbelief.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 13 Mar. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'guffaw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
imitative
First Known Use
1720, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near guffaw
Cite this Entry
“Guffaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guffaw. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on guffaw
Nglish: Translation of guffaw for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of guffaw for Arabic Speakers
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