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
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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
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Recent Examples of snigger
Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 May 2025
The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.
—Bing West, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2011
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
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
Then early this week the list came out, and sniggering ensued—on both sides of the Atlantic.
—The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
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
The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.
—Bing West, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2011
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
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
Then early this week the list came out, and sniggering ensued—on both sides of the Atlantic.
—The Economist, 3 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for snigger
Verb
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Asked by a reporter this week to describe the journey of her tennis career, Amanda Anisimova paused, then laughed.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
11 July 2025
-
The boy, too young to grasp the danger, was playing and laughing; a fleeting moment of innocence, juxtaposed against the backdrop of war.—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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Expect laughter, reflection, and real talk that inspires.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 July 2025
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After all, if laughter weren’t the most sacred byproduct of going to the movies, then Nicole Kidman wouldn’t have listed it first.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Sabbath shared a candid snap from rehearsals last week in which Ward, Butler and Osbourne were caught smiling and waving at the camera from a couch.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
30 June 2025
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Her parents' love story began with a bold move: while on a business trip to Charlotte, Barry walked up to Rogers' mother's desk, took a sip from her half-coffee, half-hot-chocolate drink, and smiled.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Instead of giving a speech about why Chicken George should use the Veto to save him, season 2 winner Dr. Will Kirby took the opportunity to famously shade his fellow all-star houseguests in an eloquent, devilish speech, which elicited giggles and confusion from the rest of the players.—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
5 July 2025
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Monday morning, the rotunda was filled with giggles and chatter as the young persimmon promoters entered the capitol.—
Anna Cecil,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Noun
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League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Snigger.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/snigger. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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