scoff at

VERB

belittle

Synonyms

STRONGEST

criticize decry deride discredit disparage downplay scorn underestimate

STRONG

deprecate depreciate derogate diminish discount downgrade knock lower minimize pan rip roast slam smear trivialize underrate undervalue

WEAK

bad-mouth cut down to size cut to the quick dispraise dump on pooh pooh poor-mouth put down run down shoot down shoot full of holes sneer at take a swipe at take down take down a peg tear down write off

Antonyms

STRONGEST

approve commend compliment flatter laud praise

STRONG

enlarge increase overestimate overrate overvalue raise upgrade

WEAK

build up exaggerate value

VERB

depreciate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

lower undervalue

STRONG

abuse asperse attack calumniate censure condemn contemn decry defame denigrate denounce deprecate deride derogate detract discount discountenance discredit disgrace disparage fault humble knock malign minimize rap revile roast scorn slam slander slight slur smear spurn traduce underestimate underrate vilify

WEAK

clamor against dispraise find fault with look down on put down run down sneer at take down a peg

Antonyms

STRONGEST

praise

STRONG

approve build up cherish commend compliment defend endorse esteem exaggerate exalt flatter honor increase laud maximize overestimate overrate protect respect revere sanction support

WEAK

gain value raise rate recommend

VERB

disbelieve

Synonyms

STRONGEST

repudiate

STRONG

discount discredit distrust eschew mistrust question reject scorn scout suspect

WEAK

give no credence to not accept not buy not credit not swallow unbelieve

Antonyms

STRONG

approve believe credit like love trust

VERB

discount

Synonyms

STRONGEST

disregard doubt forget minimize neglect omit overlook reject

STRONG

belittle depreciate derogate disbelieve discredit dispraise fail mistrust overpass question scout slight

WEAK

blink at brush off detract from pass over

Antonyms

STRONGEST

attend regard remember respect

STRONG

believe commend compliment praise trust

WEAK

increase mark up pay attention raise recognize

VERB

discredit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

distrust reject

STRONG

challenge deny disbelieve discount dispute mistrust

WEAK

put under suspicion

Antonyms

STRONG

agree believe go along trust

WEAK

commend credit honor praise

VERB

hoot

Synonyms

STRONGEST

boo heckle hiss howl jeer scream whistle

STRONG

catcall razz scorn

WEAK

shout down

VERB

pooh-pooh

Synonyms

STRONGEST

belittle play down repudiate

STRONG

discount disregard rebuff reject

WEAK

brush aside make light of sneer at treat with contempt wave aside

Antonyms

STRONGEST

build up

STRONG

attend pay attention

VERB

scorn

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abhor defy deride despise disdain disregard flout hate ignore mock refute reject repudiate ridicule shun spurn taunt

STRONG

avoid cold-shoulder confute contemn gibe refuse renounce slight sneer trash

WEAK

be above consider beneath one make fun of put down run down turn back on turn nose up at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

accept admire approve cherish compliment esteem flatter like love note pay attention praise ratify regard respect sanction

STRONG

allow

VERB

taunt

Synonyms

STRONGEST

deride insult jeer mock offend ridicule torment

STRONG

affront bother dig disdain flout jab lout outrage quiz rally revile scorn scout slam slap sneer tantalize twitter upbraid

WEAK

dump on put down swipe at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

compliment flatter please praise

STRONG

admire approve ignore respect

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.

Of course, statisticians would scoff at using one past episode to try to make a prediction about oil prices 36 years later.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

The Russians in Barentsburg scoff at the prospect of war in the Arctic.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 21, 2026

Afghans in the United States scoff at the suggestion that they'd be safe going back, saying their lives would be in danger.

From BBC • Aug. 19, 2025

My instinct is to scoff at that idea.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2024

I don’t argue with Reverend Hunt, but inside I scoff at the idea.

From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone

scoff at

Example Sentences

Related Words