"Uncomfortable laughs" refer to laughter that occurs in situations that are awkward, tense, or embarrassing. It is a way for people to cope with discomfort or unease by laughing, even though they may not find the situation funny.
Sentences with «uncomfortable laughs»
Instead of feeling like the same thing on a feature film scale, this film was able to take this character and show the audience his personal struggles, while still making a film filled to the brim with uncomfortable laughs. (filminquiry.com)
(Or, hey, maybe they're just uncomfortable laughing along with Jeffrey Tambor right now.) (avclub.com)
If you've got a sense of humor, this book will definitely make you laugh, but it will probably be the uncomfortable laugh resulting from seeing a bit too much of your own inner weasel. (inc.com)