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
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Recent Examples of scoff
Verb
And then there are the biological outliers that scoff at our expectations of aging.—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025 There’s plenty of anti-aid sentiment in the UK at the moment, including from people who scoff that anyone can voluntarily pay extra tax, without a policy change.—Christine Ro, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
In the past, when my friends and I were bold enough to ask that the television behind the bar be changed to a Wisconsin women's volleyball game, it was met by scoffs from a few Brewers fans who couldn't be bothered to turn their chairs to look at the two other TVs in the room.—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2024 As the ancient practice of yoga morphs to meet ever-shifting American tastes, Charlotte is embracing a new variation that might have drawn scoffs just a few years ago.—Roland Wilkerson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2024 See All Example Sentences for scoff
But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.
—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.
Every lap felt like a mind-numbing carousel ride through car exhaust and past bewildered pedestrians, while inhaling burrito-scented air.
—
Marley Dickinson,
Outside Online,
17 Apr. 2025
The coast was intertwined with every aspect of our time on Izu Peninsula, from watching waves crash on seaside rocks and inhaling the salty sea scent to seeing shrines nestled by the water, like at Shirahama Shrine’s torii gate.
Why, many onlookers have asked, should an orchestra or opera company gobble up millions of dollars from wealthy sponsors to subsidize the salaries of musicians who mainly perform music by white men from centuries past, music for which (judging by ticket sales) demand is limited?
—
Matthew Aucoin,
The Atlantic,
15 Apr. 2025
Putin is not feigning peace to stay on Trump’s good side merely to gobble up more Ukrainian territory.
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