scoff

7 synonyms and 2 antonyms for scoff, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To speak about something with scorn or mockery, treating it as ridiculous.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

mockery

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

jeering barrack scoffing jeer gibe flout

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To speak about something with scorn or mockery, treating it as ridiculous.

“He scoffed at the idea that the plan could ever work.”

mockery jeering barrack scoffing jeer gibe flout

Opposites

respect compliment

2. noun

A mocking remark or expression of contempt.

“Her scoff made it clear she thought the idea was absurd.”

jeer jeering scoffing mockery

How to use scoff

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

scoff at the idea scoff at criticism

The "eat quickly" sense is informal and mostly British; American English would more likely say "scarf down" or "wolf down."

Etymology

From Middle English scof, likely of North Germanic origin, related to Old Norse skaup, "mockery."

Full origin of scoff →

Frequently asked questions

What does “scoff” mean?

The word “scoff” means to speak about something with scorn or mockery, treating it as ridiculous. In plain terms, to mock something dismissively, or (informally, mainly UK) to eat something fast.

How do you pronounce “scoff”?

“Scoff” is pronounced skof (/skɔːf/ in IPA).

How do you use “scoff” in a sentence?

Here is “scoff” used in a sentence: “He scoffed at the idea that the plan could ever work.”

What part of speech is “scoff”?

Depending on how it is used, “scoff” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “scoff” come from?

The word “scoff” comes from Middle English. From Middle English scof, likely of North Germanic origin, related to Old Norse skaup, "mockery.".

How many meanings does “scoff” have?

“Scoff” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to speak about something with scorn or mockery, treating it as ridiculous.

Related words

scuff

People also searched

respect compliment mockery flout jeer barrack jeering scoffing

Nearby words

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