scoff

¹ American  

[skawf, skof] / skɔf, skɒf /

verb (used without object)

1. to speak derisively; mock; jeer (often followed byat ).

   If you can't do any better, don't scoff. Their efforts toward a peaceful settlement are not to be scoffed at.

   Synonyms:

   gibe

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verb (used with object)

1. to mock at; deride.

noun

1. an expression of mockery, derision, doubt, or derisive scorn; jeer.

   Antonyms:

   praise

2. an object of mockery or derision.

scoff ² American  

[skawf, skof] / skɔf, skɒf /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to eat voraciously.

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noun

1. food; grub.

scoff ¹ British  

/ skɒf /

verb

1. to speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock

2. obsolete (tr) to regard with derision

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noun

1. an expression of derision

2. an object of derision

scoff ² British  

/ skɒf /

verb

1. to eat (food) fast and greedily; devour

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noun

1. food or rations

Related Words

Scoff, jeer, sneer imply behaving with scornful disapproval toward someone or about something. To scoff is to express insolent doubt or derision, openly and emphatically: to scoff at a new invention. To jeer suggests expressing disapproval and scorn more loudly, coarsely, and unintelligently than in scoffing: The crowd jeered when the batter struck out. To sneer is to show by facial expression or tone of voice ill-natured contempt or disparagement: He sneered unpleasantly in referring to his opponent's misfortunes.

Other Word Forms

• scoffer noun
• scoffing adjective
• scoffingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of scoff¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English scof; origin uncertain, but compare Old Norse skopa “to scorn”

Origin of scoff²

First recorded in 1855–60; earlier scaff; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

She scoffed and gave me a hard look.

From Literature

When interviewer Jake Tapper asked if military action against Greenland was off the table, Miller scoffed.

From MarketWatch

Yet he has at times eschewed the advice of his doctors and scoffed at the medical community’s widely accepted health recommendations, relying instead on what he calls his “good genetics.”

From The Wall Street Journal

If you've lost track of what thrilled - and infuriated - users in 2025, here's a handy recall: a round-up of the year's moments that made the country pause, laugh, or even scoff.

From BBC

Washington insiders would roll their eyes and scoff when anyone would suggest that it be tried.

From Salon

Related Words

• belittle
• deride
• jeer
• mock
• reject
• ridicule
• scorn
• sneer