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

noun

1. food or rations

scoff

²

/ skɒf /

verb

1. introften foll byat 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

Derived Forms

• ˈscoffing, adjective
• ˈscoffer, noun
• ˈscoffingly, adverb

Other Words From

• scoff·er noun
• scoff·ing·ly adverb

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

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

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

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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