SCOFFING Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

scoffing

verb

present participle of scoff

as in devouring

to swallow or eat greedily scoffed dinner before running off to the basketball game

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 Gianmarco does live up to his Simon Cowell role as the panel’s resident skeptic, though Kumail is also an exacting judge, repeatedly grilling or scoffing at the players and even fact-checking them. — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026 Some hailed McDonnell as an Anna Delvey-type scammer, justifying her brazen ripoff of faceless lenders by scoffing at the idea that society should feel sympathy for giant corporate entities. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026 Kludt remembered scoffing at his friend, thinking he was destined for management. — Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 7 June 2026 When Kamyar, her co-department-head and dear friend, broaches his upcoming parental leave, Gabrielle’s response is one part scoffing to ten parts guilt-tripping. — Jon Frosch, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026 Munisteri warned the evening crowd that Democrats are unified and fighting to flip the state while Republicans are scoffing at that notion without taking any meaningful action to prevent that reality. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026 The effort prompted light scoffing, but perhaps the people who ran the network in 1997 were ahead of their time. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 30 Apr. 2026 The headset, powered by the M2 chip, had a slow start, with many complaining about its weight and scoffing at the $3,500 price tag. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 30 Apr. 2026 The next morning, Park awakes hung over before disgustingly scoffing down a handful of salmon off a caterer's serving tray. — Matt Cabral, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for scoffing

Verb

Just like today’s tentacled ocean dwellers, the Mesozoic squid ancestor likely had no problem devouring its relatives—or even members of its own species.

— Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026
Davis loved to read and collect books, devouring anything from John Updike and Margaret Atwood, among other authors, a passion that necessitated having bookshelves in every room of his home.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of devouring

Verb

But some people abuse it by inhaling it to feel relaxed or euphoric.

— Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Tottenham attempted to offload Bissouma last summer, and the club later initiated another internal investigation after an image leaked of Bissouma inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon again.

— Colin Millar, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of inhaling

Browse Nearby Words

scoffers

scoffing

scoffing (at)

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Scoffing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scoffing. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of scoffing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

discreet

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes