Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

toothy

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

adjective

toothier, toothiest
  1. having or displaying conspicuous teeth.

    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

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.

See Examples For:

But she brushed off the barbs, saying: "I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster – what the hell."

From BBC Jul. 10, 2026

He would probably laugh his toothy laugh at the absurdity of it, because he was well aware of the first absurd indignity of his life in Lubbock.

From The Wall Street Journal Nov. 30, 2025

But since we know what that toothy nemesis is capable of, we almost feel sorry for the soldiers-for-hire that go up against it.

From Salon Aug. 5, 2025

He also came equipped with some personal features that fit the time period: Faxon is known for his toothy grin, which he was not asked to enhance or change.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 27, 2025

Rasheed’s mouth opened, then spread in a yellow, toothy grin.

From "A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

Green has a toothier texture and fresher flavor; red is saucier with dusky, earthen undertones.

From Los Angeles Times May 12, 2026

Some of the bones belonged to the already-discovered Steropodon galmani, a shorter, stumpier and toothier ancestor of the platypus.

From BBC May 27, 2024

As shark experts call for a rebranding of the marine predators – suggesting that attacks be relabeled "incidents" or "interactions" – Cape Cod has begun to tentatively embrace its toothier neighbors.

From Fox News Sep. 17, 2021

She made James Brown’s toothy-looking smile look toothier with a round container that once held cheese wedges.

From New York Times Jul. 22, 2018

We got some newer, meaner, toothier guys that were straight out of Seal Team 6 — serious knuckle-dragging master chiefs.

From Washington Times Oct. 23, 2017

And the mosasaurus—that was the biggest, meanest, toothiest, most unstoppable mosasaur there was.

From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training