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View synonyms for scoff

scoff

1

[ skawf, skof ]

verb (used without object)

  1. to speak derisively; mock; jeer (often followed by at ):

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

    Synonyms: gibe



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

[ skawf, skof ]

verb (used with or without object)

  1. to eat voraciously.

noun

  1. food; grub.

scoff

1

/ skɒf /

verb

  1. to eat (food) fast and greedily; devour
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


noun

  1. food or rations
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

scoff

2

/ skɒf /

verb

  1. introften foll byat to speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock
  2. obsolete.
    tr to regard with derision
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an expression of derision
  2. an object of derision
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈscoffing, adjective
  • ˈscoffingly, adverb
  • ˈscoffer, noun
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Other Words From

  • scoff·er noun
  • scoff·ing·ly adverb
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Word History and Origins

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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of scoff1

C19: variant of scaff food; related to Afrikaans, Dutch schoft quarter of the day, one of the four daily meals

Origin of scoff2

C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Old Frisian skof mockery, Danish skof, skuf jest
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Synonym Study

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.
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Example Sentences

Such messages are unlikely to be beloved of secularists who prefer to scoff at the religious rather than engage with them.

The ratio—there are 492 billionaires in the U.S. and only 1,645 in the world—is nothing to scoff at.

Spirit companies need to tell their PR agencies to stop trying to push them, and consumers should scoff at them.

They make kick ass cocktails, they break up fights, they scoff at the idea of 'girly' drinks.

Like The Hunger Games, TFiOS doesn't scoff at tried and true Hollywood tropes.

The principles of liberty were the scoff of every grinning courtier, and the Anathema Maranatha of every fawning dean.

There was nothing either false or forced about the little exclamation he made, half scoff, half laugh.

They laugh at our music, they scoff at our arts and twist them into obscene mockeries.

I had almost said "fools who came to scoff remained to pray!"

Hence it needs not surprise that they are not very devout worshippers; it is a great wonder they do not openly scoff.

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