snicker
Americanverb (used without object)
-
snickers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
snickered,
past participle, past
-
snickering
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
snickers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
snickered,
past participle, past
-
snickering
present participle
noun
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snickers
plural
noun
verb
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Equivalent term (in Britain and certain other countries): snigger. to utter such a laugh
-
(of a horse) to whinny
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
snickersimple
-
snickerssimple
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have snickeredperfect
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has snickeredperfect
-
am snickeringprogressive
-
are snickeringprogressive
-
is snickeringprogressive
-
have been snickeringperfect progressive
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has been snickeringperfect progressive
Past
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snickeredsimple
-
had snickeredperfect
-
was snickeringprogressive
-
were snickeringprogressive
-
had been snickeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of snicker
First recorded in 1685–95; of expressive origin
Explanation
To snicker is to laugh in a mean or disrespectful way, often expressing superiority. We might snicker at a bully who walks directly into a closed door. You can also use this word's near-synonym, snigger, to describe a short snort of a laugh or a scornful sound. You know your stand-up comedy act isn't going well when you don't even get snickers from your audience. A secondary meaning of snicker is horse-related: to whinny. It's actually from this use that the Snickers candy bar gets its name. In 1930, the Mars family named it after their favorite horse — Snickers.
Vocabulary lists containing snicker
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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Where the Red Fern Grows
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A Thousand Splendid Suns
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
I got several quizzical looks and perhaps a snicker.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
"Like, wait a minute, you didn't pay anything at all, and yet you still have complaints?" she said with a snicker.
From Barron's ● Feb. 26, 2026
McCurry never belittled anyone, though occasionally the Bigfoot questions would cause other reporters to snicker.
From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2025
They snicker like Duane couldn’t be more lame.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2025
Just then the school bell clanged recess to an end and C.P. heard the two boys at the top of the stairs give a final snicker before tearing off.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
In point 16 of the X post, Karp wrote: "The culture almost snickers at Musk's interest in grand narrative, as if billionaires ought to simply stay in their lane of enriching themselves."
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
No chuckles, no snickers, not even a cough.
From Salon ● Feb. 1, 2026
I can also explain why, despite the snickers and stares and perpetually blooming bruises, it’s still worth it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2025
But while the issue can generate snickers from some in Congress, serious lawmakers in both parties think it’s crucial for national security to figure out what these phenomena are — and where they’re coming from.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2023
After a few snickers died down, Mrs. Torrance looked to Shawna.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
The gullible may have stood in awe, but sophisticated travelers scoffed and snickered at the big egg, obviously laid by an ordinary ostrich.
From Slate ● Feb. 11, 2024
Critics snickered Texas created a network simply to show reruns of Vince Young’s game-wining dash to victory over Southern California in the 2006 Rose Bowl.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 19, 2023
When conservationists first announced plans to raise $30 million for a wildlife crossing over a deadly 10-lane stretch of the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, critics snickered and said “good luck.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2022
I also snickered at the line Sarah's husband Peter tells her, "Even if I can't be with her, I don't want to be with you."
From Salon ● Apr. 15, 2022
Mrs. Bradley did not appreciate people who snickered.
From "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher
They’re even snickering at serious moments, distracting those around them and on stage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
I heard some light snickering in the background, but pushed ahead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
But snickering and irreverence aside, the Milan native was also a towering figure — both influential and polarizing — who reshaped the Italian media and political landscape in his image.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 12, 2023
They creep in from the shadows, snorting and snickering.
From New York Times ● Aug. 2, 2022
The arai clustered around him, snickering and hissing.
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
