Laughing is one of the most joyful and universal expressions of happiness, connection, and relief. Using similes for laughing allows us to capture the sound, feeling, and impact of laughter in vivid and memorable ways.
Whether you want to describe a gentle chuckle or a booming guffaw, these 32 similes will help you bring laughter to life with words.
1. Like bells ringing
Meaning: Laughing clearly and joyfully
In a sentence: Her laughter was like bells ringing, pure and bright.
Tone: Cheerful, uplifting
Other ways to say: Like chimes, clear tones
2. Like bubbles popping
Meaning: Laughing in quick, light bursts
In a sentence: His laughter was like bubbles popping, light and infectious.
Tone: Playful, lively
Other ways to say: Like sparks, quick bursts
3. Like thunder rolling
Meaning: Loud, booming laughter
In a sentence: Their laughter was like thunder rolling across the sky.
Tone: Powerful, resonant
Other ways to say: Like a storm, deep rumble
4. Like a waterfall cascading
Meaning: Continuous, flowing laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter flowed like a waterfall cascading down the rocks.
Tone: Graceful, natural
Other ways to say: Like a stream, rushing flow
5. Like birds chirping
Meaning: Light, cheerful laughter
In a sentence: His laughter was like birds chirping on a sunny morning.
Tone: Bright, happy
Other ways to say: Like tweeting, sweet sounds
6. Like a bubbling brook
Meaning: Gentle, soothing laughter
In a sentence: Her laugh was like a bubbling brook, soft and calming.
Tone: Gentle, warm
Other ways to say: Like murmuring water, light flow
7. Like fireworks exploding
Meaning: Sudden, explosive laughter
In a sentence: Their laughter burst like fireworks exploding in the night sky.
Tone: Excited, energetic
Other ways to say: Like sparks flying, loud bursts
8. Like a jack-in-the-box
Meaning: Sudden, surprising laughter
In a sentence: His laughter popped out like a jack-in-the-box, catching everyone off guard.
Tone: Playful, unexpected
Other ways to say: Like a spring, surprise jump
9. Like leaves rustling
Meaning: Soft, natural laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter was like leaves rustling in a gentle breeze.
Tone: Calm, natural
Other ways to say: Like whispering leaves, soft sounds
10. Like a choir singing
Meaning: Harmonious, joyful laughter
In a sentence: Their laughter was like a choir singing in perfect harmony.
Tone: Uplifting, communal
Other ways to say: Like voices blending, melodic
11. Like popcorn popping
Meaning: Quick, popping laughter bursts
In a sentence: His laugh was like popcorn popping in the microwave, fast and fun.
Tone: Light, energetic
Other ways to say: Like snaps, short bursts
12. Like waves crashing
Meaning: Strong, rolling laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter crashed like waves on the shore, relentless and powerful.
Tone: Forceful, energetic
Other ways to say: Like ocean waves, rolling sounds
13. Like a spark igniting
Meaning: Small laughter that starts something bigger
In a sentence: His chuckle was like a spark igniting a roaring fire of laughter.
Tone: Gentle, promising
Other ways to say: Like kindling, starting light
14. Like a bubbling volcano
Meaning: Laughter building and erupting suddenly
In a sentence: Their laughter bubbled like a volcano before erupting wildly.
Tone: Intense, dramatic
Other ways to say: Like pressure building, sudden burst
15. Like children playing
Meaning: Innocent, carefree laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter was like children playing on a sunny day.
Tone: Joyful, pure
Other ways to say: Like giggles, lighthearted fun
16. Like a clock ticking
Meaning: Regular, rhythmic laughter
In a sentence: His laughter was like a clock ticking, steady and rhythmic.
Tone: Calm, steady
Other ways to say: Like heartbeat, steady beats
17. Like a puppy’s bark
Meaning: Happy, enthusiastic laughter
In a sentence: Her laugh was like a puppy’s bark, eager and bright.
Tone: Energetic, happy
Other ways to say: Like playful sounds, cheerful noise
18. Like a train whistle
Meaning: Loud and piercing laughter
In a sentence: His laugh was like a train whistle, loud and unmistakable.
Tone: Bold, striking
Other ways to say: Like a horn, sharp sound
19. Like a gentle breeze
Meaning: Soft, soothing laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter was like a gentle breeze on a warm afternoon.
Tone: Calm, comforting
Other ways to say: Like soft wind, mild sounds
20. Like bells tinkling
Meaning: High-pitched, delicate laughter
In a sentence: Their laughter tinkled like small bells in the distance.
Tone: Light, delicate
Other ways to say: Like chimes, soft rings
21. Like a crackling fire
Meaning: Warm, inviting laughter
In a sentence: His laughter crackled like a fire on a cold night.
Tone: Cozy, friendly
Other ways to say: Like popping embers, warm sounds
22. Like a jackhammer
Meaning: Harsh, loud laughter
In a sentence: Her laugh was like a jackhammer, relentless and loud.
Tone: Intense, abrasive
Other ways to say: Like pounding, noisy
23. Like a choir of angels
Meaning: Heavenly, pure laughter
In a sentence: Their laughter was like a choir of angels, pure and uplifting.
Tone: Ethereal, joyful
Other ways to say: Like heavenly voices, celestial sounds
24. Like wind chimes
Meaning: Soft, musical laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter was like wind chimes dancing in the breeze.
Tone: Peaceful, melodic
Other ways to say: Like gentle music, soft ringing
25. Like a crackling radio
Meaning: Rough, intermittent laughter
In a sentence: His laughter crackled like an old radio, sometimes clear, sometimes fuzzy.
Tone: Nostalgic, irregular
Other ways to say: Like static noise, intermittent sound
26. Like a stream trickling
Meaning: Soft, continuous laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter trickled like a gentle stream over stones.
Tone: Calm, natural
Other ways to say: Like flowing water, steady trickle
27. Like a chorus of giggles
Meaning: Group laughter, light and happy
In a sentence: The room was filled with a chorus of giggles, light and contagious.
Tone: Joyful, communal
Other ways to say: Like a laughing crowd, shared amusement
28. Like fireworks fizzing
Meaning: Laughter that starts small and grows
In a sentence: His laughter fizzed like fireworks just before the big explosion.
Tone: Excited, building
Other ways to say: Like sparks, bubbling excitement
29. Like a sudden splash
Meaning: Sudden, unexpected laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter splashed suddenly, catching everyone off guard.
Tone: Surprising, playful
Other ways to say: Like a pop, unexpected burst
30. Like a bubbling cauldron
Meaning: Laughing with energy and intensity
In a sentence: Their laughter bubbled like a cauldron, full of energy and life.
Tone: Energetic, lively
Other ways to say: Like boiling water, lively noise
31. Like a harp’s melody
Meaning: Soft, pleasant laughter
In a sentence: Her laughter was like a harp’s melody, delicate and soothing.
Tone: Gentle, elegant
Other ways to say: Like soft music, melodic tone
32. Like a snowball rolling
Meaning: Laughter that grows bigger and louder
In a sentence: His laughter rolled like a snowball gathering speed down a hill.
Tone: Playful, growing
Other ways to say: Like building momentum, increasing energy
Conclusion
These 32 similes for laughing give you a rich palette of ways to describe the beautiful, varied sounds and feelings of laughter. Whether soft and gentle or loud and booming, laughter connects us all and brightens our lives.
