a suppressed laugh

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a suppressed laugh" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a laugh that someone is trying to hold back or conceal, often in a situation where laughing would be inappropriate. Example: "During the serious meeting, she let out a suppressed laugh when she remembered a funny incident from the previous week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"This map is outdated," he says with a suppressed laugh.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Results revealed that suppression under cognitive load produced asymmetric priming: Priming with the associate of a suppressed word speeded RT for the suppressed word, but priming with a suppressed word did not speed RT for associated words.

Harvard University

In the black community, the episode remained a suppressed trauma.

The New Yorker

Often, some little part of a suppressed emotion leaks out.

The New Yorker

Others pointed to where a suppressed document was available.

The Guardian

The article awakened a suppressed twinge of fear.

The New York Times

You sensed a suppressed Little Leaguer through the whole process.

The New Yorker

Only a suppressed titter swept through the orchestra when Mlle.

The New York Times

And a moment later I heard a suppressed but nevertheless distinct sob.

The New Yorker

I sometimes think of Mondrian as a suppressed hysteric, and I'm probably one, too.

The New York Times - Arts

What happened was very similar to a race riot, in which a suppressed rage suddenly exploded.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a suppressed laugh" to depict a character's internal amusement or attempt to maintain composure in a serious or inappropriate setting.

Common error

Avoid using "a suppressed laugh" when the laugh is stifled due to sadness or pain; reserve it for situations where the laughter is intentionally held back due to social context or politeness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a suppressed laugh" functions as a noun phrase, where 'suppressed' acts as an adjective modifying 'laugh'. It describes a specific kind of laugh, one that is being actively held back. Ludwig AI confirms this with examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Academia

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a suppressed laugh" is a grammatically sound expression used to describe a laugh that is intentionally held back. As highlighted by Ludwig, it often occurs in diverse contexts, including news, academia, and even scientific literature, showing it is not confined to informal use alone. Alternatives like "a stifled laugh" or "a muted laugh" provide subtle variations in meaning. While generally correct, it's important to use the phrase accurately, ensuring the laughter is truly suppressed by an active effort and not another factor. It is mostly used in formal context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a stifled laugh

Indicates a laugh that is forcibly quieted or held back; emphasizes the effort to contain the laughter.

a muted laugh

Implies a quieted or softened laugh, often due to politeness or the situation.

a restrained laugh

Highlights the act of consciously controlling or limiting the expression of laughter.

a held-back laugh

Focuses on the physical act of preventing the laugh from fully emerging.

a smothered laugh

Suggests that the laugh is almost completely covered or concealed, possibly with a hand.

a choked laugh

Conveys a laugh that is cut off or interrupted, as if struggling to suppress it.

a stifled giggle

Implies a suppressed, high-pitched laugh, often associated with nervousness or amusement.

a forced laugh

Emphasizes that the laugh is unnatural and insincere, perhaps made out of obligation.

a barely audible laugh

Highlights the quietness of the laugh, suggesting it's almost imperceptible.

an inward laugh

Suggests that the laughter is internalized and not outwardly expressed.

FAQs

How can I use "a suppressed laugh" in a sentence?

You can use "a suppressed laugh" to describe a situation where someone is trying not to laugh, often because it's inappropriate or they don't want to be noticed. For example, "During the serious meeting, she tried to hide "a suppressed laugh" when her colleague made a silly face."

What's the difference between "a suppressed laugh" and "a stifled laugh"?

Both phrases describe a laugh that is held back, but "a suppressed laugh" implies more of an active effort to contain the laughter, while "a stifled laugh" suggests that the laugh is being choked or muffled, sometimes involuntarily. "A stifled laugh" might be caused by surprise, while a suppressed laugh could be due to wanting to be polite.

What are some situations where "a suppressed laugh" would be appropriate to use?

Using "a suppressed laugh" can be appropriate in scenarios like serious meetings, during a solemn occasion such as a funeral, or anytime someone is trying to contain their amusement because laughing would be inappropriate or disrespectful. It's also relevant anytime you want to describe holding back a laugh because it would break tension.

What can I say instead of "a suppressed laugh"?

Alternatives to "a suppressed laugh" include phrases like "a muted laugh", "a restrained laugh", or "a held-back laugh". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey about the laugh.