scoff

¹

[skawf, skof]

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

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 speak contemptuously (about); express derision (for); mock

2. obsolete,  (tr) to regard with derision

noun

1. an expression of derision

2. an object of derision

scoff

²

/ skɒf /

verb

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

noun

1. food or rations

Other Word Forms

• scoffing adjective
• scoffingly adverb
• scoffer noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of scoff¹

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

Origin of scoff²

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

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.

Example Sentences

The governor scoffs, “man is conceived in sin and born in corruption and he passeth from the stink of the didie to the stench of the shroud. There is always something.”

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Candidates vied for speaking time, scoffed at their opponents’ answers and called out one another for allegedly dodging questions from moderators.

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It’s easy to scoff at such tricks from the outside.

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He scoffed at the idea extremists might hijack any of the demonstrations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Regardless, his discography is, at the very least, not something to scoff at.

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Related Words

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