forced laughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "forced laughter" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which a person laughs in an insincere or awkward manner, for instance when they are trying to cover up an uncomfortable or embarrassing moment. For example: "When the boss arrived, everyone in the room made an effort to laugh, the resulting sound being a collective forced laughter in the face of the awkward situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

But don't expect forced laughter to lend you an edge, Dr. Dunbar says.

The New York Times

False praise, forced laughter, high dudgeon: All that was missing in Tuesday's Republican showdown was someone tossing a glass of chardonnay across the set.

The New York Times

My seat was not far from where Miss New York State stood on the ramp, and I could see her trembling with a kind of sick, forced laughter.

The New Yorker

In 2002, Charles Schaefer, a psychologist at Fairleigh Dickinson University, studied how forced laughter affected the state of mind of students.

The New Yorker

The guiding principle was that while humor can fail to produce the expulsion of air and muscle contractions known as laughter, forced laughter always works because it transcends thought.

The New York Times - Arts

The President's interview was a joint one with Hillary Clinton, and one question raised by their stilted camaraderie and forced laughter about 2016 endorsements was what debts to the Clintons he was cancelling (another dynasty, other pathologies).

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

His group grew, meeting regularly to force laughter into the morning air.

The New York Times - Arts

Shay laughed until she was crying, and weird Mark kept his hand on her arm, forcing laughter as if he were part of it.

The New Yorker

Don't force laughter, as this is cringe-inducing; smile and nod instead or smile, shake your head, and look down.

WikiHow

The whole auditorium, including Brown, was forced into laughter.

The Guardian

He was referring to a game they'd played as children: spontaneous, forced, meaningless laughter.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "forced laughter" to describe situations where laughter is produced out of obligation, nervousness, or to mask discomfort, rather than genuine amusement.

Common error

Avoid using "forced laughter" when describing nervous laughter that is genuine. "Forced laughter" implies intentional insincerity, whereas nervous laughter might be an involuntary reaction to stress.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forced laughter" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "forced" modifies the noun "laughter". It indicates a specific type of laughter that is not genuine or spontaneous, but rather produced deliberately, often out of politeness or discomfort. As Ludwig AI suggests, it signifies insincerity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Wiki

11%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The analysis reveals that "forced laughter" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe laughter lacking genuineness. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Its primary function is to highlight insincerity or discomfort in social situations. Appearing frequently in news and media sources, the phrase carries a neutral register. When writing, consider using it to pinpoint instances where laughter isn't a natural reaction, but instead a deliberate social performance. Be careful not to use "forced laughter" to describe just any unnatural type of laughter such as nervous laughter, as it specifically implies intentional insincerity. Several alternatives exist, like "insincere laughter" or "artificial laughter", each with its nuanced take on the lack of genuine amusement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

insincere laughter

Focuses on the lack of genuineness in the laughter.

fake laughter

Highlights the artificial nature of the laughter.

contrived laughter

Emphasizes the deliberate and unnatural quality of the laughter.

artificial laughter

Stresses the non-genuine aspect of the laughter.

hollow laughter

Suggests the emptiness and lack of real emotion behind the laughter.

strained laughter

Indicates the effort and discomfort associated with producing the laughter.

awkward laughter

Highlights the uncomfortable situation that may prompt the laughter.

polite laughter

Emphasizes the social obligation aspect of the laughter.

unnatural laughter

Focuses on the artificial and uncommon way in which someone is laughing.

put-on laughter

Highlights the deceptive nature of the laughter, indicating it is meant to deceive.

FAQs

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

You can use "forced laughter" to describe a situation where people laugh insincerely, such as "The comedian's jokes were met with "polite applause" and "forced chuckles"".

What are some alternatives to "forced laughter"?

Alternatives to "forced laughter" include "insincere laughter", "fake laughter", or "contrived laughter", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to describe nervous laughter as "forced laughter"?

While both may sound unnatural, nervous laughter is often involuntary due to anxiety, while "forced laughter" implies a deliberate attempt to appear amused even when one is not. So, it depends on the context.

What's the difference between "forced laughter" and "genuine laughter"?

"Forced laughter" is insincere and often used to be polite or mask discomfort, while genuine laughter is a natural, spontaneous response to something truly funny or amusing.