🙄 Scorn or disbelief 😒 A dismissive sound

bah

8 9.8

A short sound people make to show they do not like something or refuse it

noun
/bɑ/

Informal

: bah

Like proper bah humbug the pair of you.

Examples

When the chef made the error, his assistant said, "Bah! That was careless!"
And a "bah, humbug" to you.

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)
Six months without a boo or a bah, huh?

Eagle Eye (2008)
Jeez, six months without a boo or a bah, now it's great to see you.

Fiction book (2000)
"Faul slapped her thighs and uttered a low 'Bah' as little clouds of fine red dust swirled into the air.

Fiction book (1991)
She rolled her eyes and replied with a dismissive, "Bah!" to his complaints.
After hearing the ridiculous excuse, he scoffed and exclaimed, "Bah! That's absurd!"

Synonyms

hah

vsbah

Informal

18 8.9

A quick sound that shows scorn or disbelief

is similar but can carry stronger disgust alongside scorn

tch

vsbah

Informal

9 9.9

A short sound people make to show annoyance or mild disapproval

focuses more on contempt and disgust than on mere annoyance

bleh

vsbah

Informal

8 9.7

A short sound to show dislike or boredom

is stronger, showing open contempt rather than mild displeasure

urgh

vsbah

7 9.3

A sound people make to show disgust or annoyance

is nearer to quick contempt or dismissal than deep frustration

buh

vsbah

Offensive

6 9.9

A quick sound you make to show you do not like or take someone seriously

is similar but also covers general disgust and rejection

pish

vsbah

Archaic

4 9.9

An old exclamation showing disbelief or contempt

is more general and used across modern situations

foo

vsbah

Informal

3 9.9

A short word said to show you do not respect something

is similar but can also show plain disgust rather than only scorn

yech

vsbah

Informal

3 9.9

A short word people say to show disgust

is similar but also covers general dismissive contempt

psh

vsbah

Informal

3 9.9

A short sound showing annoyance or disbelief

stresses contempt and disgust more than mild annoyance

pah

vsbah

Informal

1 9.9

A short sound used to show disgust, disbelief, or dismissal

leans more toward blunt contempt than surprised disbelief

bup

vsbah

Slang

1 9.9

A short sound showing disbelief or refusal

is closer to showing personal contempt rather than only rejection

blech

vsbah

Informal

1 9.9

A short sound people say to show dislike or disgust

is shorter and more directly dismissive than strong revulsion

ecch

vsbah

Informal

1 9.9

A short sound people say to show they feel disgust

leans more to contempt or dismissal than mere distaste

foh

vsbah

Slang

1 9.9

A short sound to show disbelief or dislike

is similar but may also simply show general disgust

phoo

vsbah

1 9.9

A short word said to show mild disgust or disbelief

is stronger, signalling clearer contempt rather than mild dislike

harrumph

vsbah

Archaic

1 9.9

A short gruff sound that shows annoyance or disapproval

is more purely contemptuous and dismissive rather than mildly annoyed

augh

vsbah

Informal

1 9.9

A short cry showing disgust or strong dislike

is more concise and used for brief contempt or dismissal

feh

vsbah

Informal

9.9

A short sound used to show dislike and to dismiss an idea or person

is nearly the same but can feel more blunt or abrupt

Bah humbug

vsbah

Informal

9.9

A short annoyed remark showing you do not like holiday cheer

is broader, used against many targets beyond celebrations

poh

vsbah

Archaic

9.9

A short word people say to show they do not believe or respect something

is like this but used more widely in modern speech

Bah, who needs it?

vsbah

Informal

9.9

A short phrase people say to show they do not care and think something is not needed

is more directly contemptuous or disgusted rather than merely indifferent

Idioms

Bah humbug

Informal

9.9

A short annoyed remark showing you do not like holiday cheer

How Negative

yuck

Informal

5 8.3

ugh

Informal

282 7.9

bah

Informal

8 9.8

to tsk

Informal

2 9.9

pfft

Informal

5 9.9

Surface Forms

bah singular

bahs plural

Etymology

Bah as a noun comes from the same short, dismissive sound, like the bah in Bah! Humbug!, and it names that noise of 'contempt' or 'dismissal'. So a 'bah' is the small angry or annoyed sound someone makes to show they do not accept something.