Word.ws English Dictionary

How to use scoff in a sentence

27 example sentences · noun, verb

Scoff means a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach. Example: “The numbers thin out the further we get from London, so I don't feel guilty when I remove my mask momentarily to scoff some of the snacks I'd bought at Marylebone.”

Examples of scoff by meaning

verbTo eat food quickly.

  • ‘You got to own that this old Orlando Boop’s pretty hot stuff, having it out with the Baron for scoffing all the best food at his table.’1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 84
  • The numbers thin out the further we get from London, so I don't feel guilty when I remove my mask momentarily to scoff some of the snacks I'd bought at Marylebone.2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 68

More sentences with scoff

  • He scoffs at his peers’ dystopian scenarios of supercharged misinformation and even, eventually, human extinction.2023 December 22, Steven Levy, “How Not to Be Stupid About AI, With Yann LeCun”, in Wired, →ISSN. From the entry dystopian
  • I scoff these as a mid-afternoon snack, as part of a 'picky tea' or even just because.2023, Jane Dunn, Jane’s Patisserie Everyday. From the entry picky tea
  • I think it’s possible.’ ‘You watch too much internet,’ Roly scoffed and they walked on in silence.2021, Clodagh Murphy, The Reboot, Balally Books, →ISBN. From the entry catfisher
  • Oh, you can scoff, Mr White, but you siblings that thirst for glory chase moonbeams.2021, Richard Woodman, A King's Cutter, page 27. From the entry chase moonbeams
  • “Oh, yes, I’m so happy that my latest codelincuente has adiosed me,” I scoff.2019, Jessica Shubert, My Name is Runaway, Page Publishing, Inc., →ISBN. From the entry adios
  • Scoffers will duly scoff as they did at sound, color, and wide screen.1995 May 15, John Simon, “Wings of Courage”, in National Review. From the entry smell-o-rama
  • Also, he was low on beer money and, anyway, we'd scoff and wouldn't believe him.1978, 73 Amateur Radio, page 103. From the entry 807
  • Many professional Navy and Coast Guard men were inclined to scoff.1944, Lawrance Roger Thompson, The Navy Hunts the CGR 3070, page 7. From the entry hooligan
  • His father scoffed at the name - but he gave in.1942, Agatha Christie, Five Little Pigs, HarperCollins, published 1994, →ISBN, page 39. From the entry Amyas
  • Outsiders who scoffed at this profligacy misunderstood the masquerade.2025 June 27, Michael M. Grynbaum, “The Concorde-and-Caviar Era of Condé Nast, When Magazines Ruled the Earth”, in The New York Times, →ISSN. From the entry profligacy
  • Style?” I hear you scoff) it has to be tongue-in-chic because we are world-class masters at self deprecation.2015 May 22, Kathy Lette, “Why Australia will make Eurovision even more fun”, in Radio Times. From the entry tongue-in-chic
  • And we left most of the oversweet and overprocessed cake on the plate, scoffing up the fresh berries instead.2009 July 17, Emily DeNitto, “Great Expectations and the Denouement”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company…. From the entry scoff up
  • A sucker for the Q-tip eargasm, I scoffed at the warning on the box: "Do not use swab in ear canal."2006 April, Kevin Cook, “Are You a Clean Freak?”, in Men's Health. From the entry eargasm
  • Whip out a 2 dollar bill (and please don't whip out the other thing) and she'll scoff at you.1998 December 8, arch stanton, “Kelly O'Dell Dancing in Kansas City 12/9 - 12/12/98”, in rec.arts.movies.erotica (Usenet), archived from…. From the entry Ulysses Grant
  • His local critics questioned how that would work, and Jane Alexander, chairwoman of the endowment, scoffed at the idea.1997 July 6, Adam Clymer, “G.O.P. Urged to Back Arts Endowment”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN…. From the entry pie in the sky
  • Such a suggestion is scoffed at by Shimerians who maintain that they have the will to stave off institutional death.1976 May 3, Gene I. Maeroff, “Illinois College Defies Premature Reports and Clings to Life”, in New York Times. From the entry Shimerian
  • “Why not Spinach or Cabbage?” Brian had scoffed.1974, Alison Lurie, The War Between the Tates: A Novel, Open Road Media, published 2012, →ISBN. From the entry sage
  • Victor, who wears glasses herself on occasion, scoffs at the idea of hiding the be-glassed visage under a brimmed hat.1939 November 12, Isabella Taves, “Glamour with Glasses”, in The Detroit Free Press, 109th year, number 192, part three, page 10. From the entry be-glassed
  • If we are to scour out the scofflaws, we must first remove those particular laws at which nearly everybody scoffs.1926, The Independent, volume 117. From the entry scofflaw
  • Yes, it’s a good idea to scoff up carrots, chow down on broccoli, and inhale kale – but don’t Kit-Kats taste nicer?2020 January 2, Telegraph Reporters, “10 healthy nutrition hacks that will improve what – and how – you eat”, in Chris Evans, editor, The…. From the entry scoff up
  • “Might you be pregnant?” I scoffed.2017, Jamila Jasper, The Situationship: BWWM Romance Novel, Publisher s23991. From the entry situationship
  • Get your Kombi around this little beauty, a classic korma-esque cuzza made from scratch, that's easy to make and just as easy to scoff.2016, Martin Dorey, The Camper Van Bible: Live, Eat, Sleep (Repeat), page 238. From the entry cuzza
  • "Mr Baillieu has popped out of the water in his budgie-smugglers, but he doesn't reckon that climate change is a problem," Garrett scoffed.2006 November 23, Stuart Rintoul, “Bracks's walk was on the wild side”, in The Australian. From the entry budgie smugglers
  • Armed with her utter faith in the goodness she must stand unabashed before the arrogance that scoffs at the power of spirit.1919, Rabindranath Tagore, Letter to M. K. Gandhi. From the entry unabashed
  • Meanwhile the sick woman, frowning prodigiously, and openly scoffing at the whole procedure, was, in spite of herself, beginning to tingle with a feeling perilously near to excitement.1913, Eleanor H. Porter, chapter 8, in Pollyanna, L.C. Page, →OCLC. From the entry refractory

Meaning of scoff

  1. noun A derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.
  2. noun An object of scorn, mockery, or derision.
  3. verb To jeer; to laugh with contempt and derision.

Full definition of scoff

Questions about scoff in a sentence

How do you use scoff in a sentence?
Scoff is used as a noun and verb. For example: “The numbers thin out the further we get from London, so I don't feel guilty when I remove my mask momentarily to scoff some of the snacks I'd bought at Marylebone.”
What is a short sentence with scoff?
““Might you be pregnant?” I scoffed.”
What does scoff mean?
Scoff means a derisive or mocking expression of scorn, contempt, or reproach.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: scoff (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “How to use scoff in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/scoff. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.