scoff 1 of 2

Definition of scoffnext
as in to devour
to swallow or eat greedily scoffed dinner before running off to the basketball game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

scoff

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word scoff distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of scoff are fleer, flout, gibe, jeer, and sneer. While all these words mean "to show one's contempt in derision or mockery," scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

In what contexts can fleer take the place of scoff?

While in some cases nearly identical to scoff, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

When can flout be used instead of scoff?

Although the words flout and scoff have much in common, flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

When might gibe be a better fit than scoff?

In some situations, the words gibe and scoff are roughly equivalent. However, gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

When could jeer be used to replace scoff?

The synonyms jeer and scoff are sometimes interchangeable, but jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

Where would sneer be a reasonable alternative to scoff?

The words sneer and scoff can be used in similar contexts, but sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scoff
Verb
Defense lawyer Carey Haughwout scoffed at that explanation, saying prosecutors never had enough evidence to convict — with or without the recordings. Rafael Olmeda, Sun Sentinel, 20 Jan. 2026 Throughout his campaign, naysayers had scoffed at the idea that Mamdani could convince enough legislators in Albany to secure state funding to make childcare free starting at age two citywide. Literary Hub, 15 Jan. 2026
Noun
Thankfully things didn't escalate beyond a scoff in this case, but what should a traveler do in a similar situation to handle a pushy fellow passenger civilly? Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2024 His response was met with laughter and scoffs of disbelief from the audience. Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 21 Feb. 2024 See All Example Sentences for scoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scoff
Verb
  • My son devoured his giant burger quesadilla, and the chilaquiles burger (chips, sauce and egg atop a burger patty) was messy, tasty fun.
    Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
  • For Carston, watching her kids devour her kitchen creations is worth every spoonful.
    Ryan Dennis, CBS News, 4 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Sure, the scatalogical title and prurient lyrics reflected the band's age — Armstrong was fresh out of his teens at the time — but its punk sneer was rooted in sophisticated songcraft.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The obsequiousness, the sneers, the boasting, the vacant generalities, and the hand-waving bespeak fear of departing from the Trumpian orthodoxy of the moment.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • They can also be inhaled — particularly when heated during styling — and absorbed through a person’s hands.
    Claretta Bellamy, NBC news, 12 Feb. 2026
  • Your daughter breathes that same air, inhaling the virus directly into her respiratory tract.
    Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • And Nix, often with a smirk, will return the volley.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The bus drivers do nothing to enforce the rules, and we seniors are left trudging down the bus aisle while the people in the seats smirk, look at their phones and talk to each other.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Yes, gulping the liquid the night before was an ordeal — try drinking three liters of anything in three hours, going to sleep, then waking up six hours later for one final liter.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Protostars are messy and dynamic, gulping down material in spurts and fits and ejecting powerful outflows of wind and jets that punch into the surrounding clouds.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But all the profits were gobbled up, either by the tariffs or the debt payments needed to cover them.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Monstera Aptly named, monstera deliciosa is truly monstrous, gobbling up space in your home at a rate of one to two feet per year.
    Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Scoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scoff. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

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