scoff 1 of 2

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
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
Noun
One high-profile conservative scoffed at the idea of Weiss being one of them, noting that the White House continues to deny The Free Press credentials. Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025 The latter may scoff at the idea of a nostalgic horror movie, but anyone who's had the urge to peek through their fingers as nightmares unfold in front of them knows that fear can be both cathartic and illuminating. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scoff
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scoff
Verb
  • There are other predators just waiting to devour us.
    Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Angelo’s is the lunch stop and Strowman devoured ribs, brisket and more smoked meats, restaurant owner Jason George told the Star-Telegram.
    Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Anderson plunges the audience into the rebels’ point of view, immersing us in the recalcitrant pride and swagger of Perfidia Beverly Hills, a revolutionary leader played by Teyana Taylor with a hypnotic sneer of defiance.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Inhale the Oils Using the Dry Evaporation Method The dry evaporation method is another way to inhale essential oils indirectly but effectively.
    Emily Brown, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia — fear of long words (The longest word found in major English dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a 45-letter word describing a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust.
    Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That comment and a smirk from Holly pushed her over the edge.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • As Hedda battles with herself, there’s a rage simmering underneath every smirk and every one of her bleak and destructive actions.
    Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • What's more, while virtually all VTOLs being developed these days are electric, the Janus-1 is powered by a turboshaft engine that gulps n' burns diesel, kerosene or Jet A fuel.
    Ben Coxworth October 21, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Perhaps a whale or a shark would arrive to gulp down the passengers, one by one.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Deer will gobble them up as a high-protein meal.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Hoosiers are watching their electric bills balloon, communities are rallying against energy-gobbling data centers, and government officials, consumer advocates and utilities have competing interests and ideas for how to move forward, including building several nuclear reactors.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 20 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scoff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scoff. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

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