to snicker
27
4.0
- verb
- /ˈsnɪkər/
:
reírse por lo bajo
- Some kids, too young for an R-rated movie, sit close to the front, snickering at each obscenity.
People kind of snicker at a bad idea.
- People kind of snicker at a bad idea.
- I mean, nothing was worse than me going the them and all the kids laughing and snickering.
- Teachers wouldn't reprimand students that were snickering and mocking me publicly just for the fact that they wanted to seem funny amongst their clique.
Examples
-
But now, whenever Jamie stutters, Mrs. Ference notices a lot of snickering and whispering from classmates.
Academic text (2014) -
A couple of students snickered at his use of the word hell.
-
When you walk into a room, certain girls snicker behind their hands.
Fiction book (1993) -
The Japanese girls snicker at Jerry and me when they pass by us.
Fiction book (1996) -
A couple of guys at our lunch table snickered, and I glared at them.
Fiction book (1996) -
The people in the tent snickered and nudged each other.
Fiction book (1995) -
Edward is suddenly aware of dozens of co-workers all around him, snickering and whispering.
Fiction book (1995) -
I had rounded the corner to my house when they approached, those three men, snickering under their stinking robes.
Academic text (1995) -
One can hear Callicles or Nietzsche snickering at the relapse into weakness and inconsistency.
Academic text (1995) -
The children couldn't help but snicker when they saw their friend's embarrassing haircut.
Synonyms
237
2.0
To laugh quietly to yourself when something is slightly funny
4
6.8
To laugh quietly to make fun of someone
3
1.9
To make a quiet sound because something is funny so you do not disturb others
3
7.4
To laugh in a short nervous way at something slightly funny or awkward
Feel secretly pleased and make fun of someone without showing it
How Loud
Surface Forms
Etymology
Snicker probably comes from copying the soft sound sn- people make when they try to hide a laugh, like a quiet giggle, and this idea became a verb. So, to snicker is to laugh quietly and partly hold back the laugh, often at something secret or rude.