as in chuckle
an explosive sound that is a sign of amusement
a love scene that unintentionally drew sniggers from the audience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to laugh
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
we sniggered as the actor kept forgetting his lines
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 snigger
Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 May 2025
This offbeat comedy, which originally ran from 2007-10, thrives on less explicit social tensions: sniggers behind the back and raised eyebrows at the dinner table.
—The Economist, 26 Dec. 2019
Most football fans allowed themselves a brief snigger when Florentino Perez suggested that Real Madrid had tried to sign Lionel Messi many moons ago.
—SI.com, 9 Sep. 2017
The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.
—Bing West, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2011
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025
Dour officials from the Department of Homeland Security who spotted his posts saw nothing to snigger about.
—The Economist, 8 June 2019
Noun
Each time an audience member so much as sniggers or sneezes, money is docked from a prize pot of £250,000 ($330,000), the slightest noise costing them up to £10,000 ($13,000) each time.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 May 2025
This offbeat comedy, which originally ran from 2007-10, thrives on less explicit social tensions: sniggers behind the back and raised eyebrows at the dinner table.
—The Economist, 26 Dec. 2019
Most football fans allowed themselves a brief snigger when Florentino Perez suggested that Real Madrid had tried to sign Lionel Messi many moons ago.
—SI.com, 9 Sep. 2017
The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.
—Bing West, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2011
Verb
Jaclyn, Laurie, and Kate — immediately reverting back to the bitchy girls who ruled Nowhere High together — sniggered at the scene from behind designer sunnies.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2025
Dour officials from the Department of Homeland Security who spotted his posts saw nothing to snigger about.
—The Economist, 8 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snigger
Noun
-
As Ross runs off, on to the next part of the show, commentator John Helm lets out a hearty chuckle.—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
9 June 2026
-
Even Saturday Night Live’s reigning king of smarm, Colin Jost, playing a henpecked husband, got some chuckles out of me.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Parts of the ad featured realistic-looking footage of Massie walking, dining, and laughing with the two.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
20 June 2026
-
The High Museum of Art is also hosting a Juneteenth event for visitors to tour the art galleries, make art of their own, listen to stories and poetry, laugh with comedians and dance during a Tambor Party.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
After the laughter ringing through the room subsides, though, Abela does allow for a moment of reverence — for the HBO drama if not for the disreputable people who populate it.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
17 June 2026
-
Our goal with Scary Movie was to bring laughter back to the world.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
Across over a dozen photos, James is seen hoisting his daughter up on his shoulders, enjoying the family ranch with his son, embracing his young kids, and smiling alongside his wife.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 June 2026
-
One of the photos featured a selfie of the Aquaman actress smiling into the camera on race day.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
These days, fear and absurdity walk hand in hand, and anyone who’s scrolled a news feed knows how quickly abject terror can morph into cathartic giggles.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
17 June 2026
-
One highlight of this tenure was his descent into a fit of giggles while interviewing Carol Channing.—
Mark Kennedy,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The grown-ups in the audience snicker.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
-
There were snickers from some of the other students, including a tall and lank-haired kid whose name Adele didn’t know.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Snigger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snigger. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
