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Synonyms

toothy

American  
[too-thee, -thee] / ˈtu θi, -ði /

adjective

toothier, toothiest

  1. having or displaying conspicuous teeth: tooth.

    a toothy smile.

  2. savory; appetizing; toothsome.

  3. possessing a rough surface.

    toothy paper.

  4. Archaic. sharp or caustic.

    toothy commentary.
toothy British  
/ ˈtuːθɪ /

adjective

  1. having or showing numerous, large, or projecting teeth

    a toothy grin
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • toothily adverb
  • toothiness noun

Etymology

Origin of toothy

First recorded in 1520–30; tooth + -y 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Clare smiled in an attempt to smooth things over, then remembered that his hideous toothy grin did more harm than good.

From Literature

On the second twirl, I caught sight of the cocky, toothy smile of Douglas Fairbanks on the cover of Photoplay.I plucked the magazine from the stand.

From Literature

His angular head topped with a green felt crown; his toothy mouth a sinister, grimacing gash; his eyes blackened with what looks like charcoal.

From Los Angeles Times

By now most Americans and Canadians know of Jack Hughes, the impossibly toothy and toothless forward on the 2026 U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

The adventurers reckon that they’re probably safe because it’s off-season for the toothy beasts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.