delighted laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delighted laughter" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe laughter that is filled with joy or happiness, often in response to something amusing or heartwarming. Example: "The children's delighted laughter filled the room as they opened their presents on Christmas morning."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Most times I descended into paroxysms of delighted laughter.

The Guardian

And she gave a burst of delighted laughter.

The New York Times - Arts

He milks delighted laughter from his syllable-throttling pronunciation of words like "uppishness" and "bumptious".

The New York Times

(Some are easy: Christopher Walken intoning about the watch he kept up his ass. Delighted laughter in the room).

The New Yorker

I heard the delighted laughter of a young Frenchwoman on her Vélib schussing by in the opposite direction.

The New York Times - Travel

Overwhelmed by the colorful circus of fish and corals below her, her delighted laughter, "peal-ish and bell-like," wafted through her mask to her father's ears.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"Just like that," she says, with that delighted burst of laughter.

The New York Times - Magazine

Look particularly at his face: when the delighted and joyful laughter of the crowd whips him into a frenzied double fist-pump, tell me that isn't a man regretting every single agonising atom of his existence, a man with fine and lofty ideas who accidentally crushed them in a self-inflicted dance off; This is where hubris overtakes him.

Vice

Splashing and laughter and delighted screams at the pool.

The New York Times

"College graduates should not have to live out their 20s in their childhood bedrooms, staring up at fading Obama posters and wondering when they can move out and get going with life," he said midway through his speech, eliciting laughter and delighted applause.

The New York Times

He looks delighted: "Hanukkah!" Relishing his visitor's laughter, he says: "I wish I'd known you when I was a used-car salesman," Mr. Silverman says.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "delighted laughter" to specifically describe laughter that expresses pure joy and happiness, especially in response to heartwarming or amusing situations. It adds an emotional layer to the description of the laughter.

Common error

Avoid using "delighted laughter" in situations that are somber or serious, as it can sound inappropriate or insensitive. Reserve it for contexts where genuine joy and amusement are fitting.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delighted laughter" functions as an adjective-noun compound, where "delighted" modifies the noun "laughter". This creates a vivid description of the type of laughter being expressed, emphasizing its joyful and pleased nature. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "delighted laughter" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that effectively conveys joy and amusement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its use is considered correct and appropriate. It functions as an adjective-noun compound, describing a specific type of laughter characterized by happiness. While neutral in register, it's important to avoid its use in inappropriate or somber contexts. Semantically related alternatives include phrases like "joyful chuckles" and "gleeful giggles". The phrase is commonly found in news and media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

joyful chuckles

Replaces "laughter" with "chuckles" and "delighted" with "joyful", implying softer, less explosive laughter.

blissful chuckles

Changes "laughter" to "chuckles" and "delighted" to "blissful", implying a softer, less explosive laughter derived from pure happiness.

gleeful giggles

Changes "laughter" to "giggles" and "delighted" to "gleeful", suggesting a more childish and high-pitched sound.

happy mirth

Substitutes "laughter" with "mirth" and "delighted" with "happy", indicating a broader sense of happiness expressed through amusement.

elated guffaws

Replaces "laughter" with "guffaws" and "delighted" with "elated", suggesting loud, unrestrained laughter.

thrilled chortles

Substitutes "laughter" with "chortles" and "delighted" with "thrilled", indicating a suppressed, yet joyful sound of amusement.

ecstatic cackles

Changes "laughter" to "cackles" and "delighted" to "ecstatic", implying a sharper, higher-pitched, and intensely happy sound.

cheerful roars

Replaces "laughter" with "roars" and "delighted" with "cheerful", suggesting very loud and hearty laughter.

exuberant chuckling

Transforms "laughter" into a gerund "chuckling" and "delighted" into "exuberant", suggesting a continuous, bubbly sound of amusement.

radiant amusement

This replaces the action with the emotion, portraying a state of radiant joy rather than a sound.

FAQs

How can I use "delighted laughter" in a sentence?

You can use "delighted laughter" to describe a sound filled with joy. For example: "The children's "delighted laughter" filled the room as they opened their presents."

What are some alternatives to "delighted laughter"?

Alternatives include "joyful chuckles", "gleeful giggles", or "happy mirth", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "delighted laughter" formal or informal?

"Delighted laughter" is generally considered appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in descriptive or narrative writing where emotional expression is desired.

What makes "delighted laughter" different from regular laughter?

"Delighted laughter" specifically indicates that the laughter is caused by a feeling of great pleasure or joy, distinguishing it from laughter that may be nervous, polite, or sarcastic.