scoffing

Definition of scoffingnext
present participle of scoff
as in devouring
to swallow or eat greedily scoffed dinner before running off to the basketball game

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 scoffing Mark sees why when his students barely look up from their phones while scoffing at his plan to teach Anna Karenina. David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Feb. 2026 That was fun, drinking from a bone china tea set and scoffing jam scones in a quaint village cafe on the edge of the Lake District. Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026 Whether scoffing the fisherman's haul at Ristorante Bar la Vela, margaritas and caper paté at Kaya Kaya overlooking the harbor of Scauri, or simply scrambling onto a rocky perch with a cold beer. Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026 The 30-second spot shows Hughes, Dallas goalie Jake Oettinger, Colorado defenseman Cale Makar and Boston forward Charlie McAvoy in a classroom setting, asking questions and scoffing at the notion that AI can compare to NHL hockey. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Dec. 2025 Ackman’s dating advice isn’t the first interaction with a scoffing public. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025 Too bad the in-laws are scoffing at the necessity of a pool fence. Virginia Chamlee, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scoffing
Verb
  • The canines ripped through tough hides, devouring high-fat tissue and leaving carcasses with soft meat on the bone—a perfect meal for ravens who seemed to follow the kill.
    Nidhi Sharma, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026
  • Early in the premiere, M brags about her party guests devouring her fancy salad.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Humans are evolutionarily designed for hunting and gathering — not for lifting 50-pound boxes for eight hours straight or inhaling toxic dust in an industrial sanding booth.
    Vivek Ranadive, Fortune, 14 Mar. 2026
  • Wearing a protective mask to avoid inhaling the dust, fill a hand-crank or push rotary spreader with pelletized lime.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.
    Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
  • 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

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Cite this Entry

“Scoffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scoffing. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.

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