forced laugh
Insincere social chuckle
A forced laugh is laughter produced deliberately rather than spontaneously—typically to be polite, mask discomfort, or pretend amusement: She gave a forced laugh at his terrible joke.
The phrase often implies the laugh is noticeably artificial, betraying the effort behind it.
- fakeNot the real thing
- awkwardLacking grace or ease
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- hollowEmpty within
- strainedUnder uncomfortable tension
going through motions · polite · uncomfortable · chuckle · giggle · snicker · titter · cackle · ha ha · cringe · social · social cues · cocktail party · saving face · mask · pretend · courtesy · tension
- fake emotionscrocodile tears, fake smile, feigned interest, false modesty, feigned surprise
- awkward momentsoops, cringe, embarrassment, yikes, awkward
- laughtergiggling, chuckling, snickering, giggles, chortling
voluntariness/control
forced laughuncontrollable laughter
belly laugh · laughing fit · crack up · hearty laugh · fits of laughter
forced, laugh, force, forces, forcing, forceful, forcefully, unforced, laughs