Snickered: meaning, definitions and examples

😏
Add to dictionary

snickered

 

[ ˈsnɪkərd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

quiet laughter

To snicker means to laugh quietly or to let out a suppressed laugh, often in a way that suggests amusement at someone else's misfortune or flaws. It's a form of laughter that is not openly expressive but rather subdued. Snickering can be associated with mocking or derisive behavior, as it implies a lack of full respect for the subject of the laughter. The term is often used in the context of teasing or making fun of someone in a light-hearted yet sneaky way.

Synonyms

giggle, sneer, snigger, titter.

Examples of usage

  • The students snickered at the teacher's mistake.
  • She couldn't help but snicker when her friend tripped.
  • They snickered quietly during the serious meeting.

Translations

Translations of the word "snickered" in other languages:

🇵🇹 risadinha

🇮🇳 ख़ुशकिस्मती से मुस्कुराना

🇩🇪 kichern

🇮🇩 tersenyum sinis

🇺🇦 підсміхатися

🇵🇱 chichotać

🇯🇵 クスクス笑う

🇫🇷 rire sous cape

🇪🇸 reírse entre dientes

🇹🇷 sindirerek gülmek

🇰🇷 낄낄 웃다

🇸🇦 يضحك بسخرية

🇨🇿 škádlit

🇸🇰 posmievať sa

🇨🇳 窃笑

🇸🇮 posmehovati se

🇮🇸 hlæja hljóðlega

🇰🇿 құпия күлкі

🇬🇪 ხუმრობა

🇦🇿 gülmək

🇲🇽 reírse entre dientes

Etymology

The word 'snicker' has its roots in the Middle English term 'snickeren', which means to snigger or to laugh quietly. This term is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old Dutch word 'snicken', meaning to sneer or to snort, and possibly the Middle Low German 'snickern'. The evolution of the word reflects a change in usage from a simple act of laughing to a more nuanced expression that often conveys a sense of mockery or ridicule. 'Snickered', the past tense of snicker, began to be commonly used in the 19th century and has been popular in American English ever since. The usage of 'snicker' has been widely adopted in literature and everyday conversation, primarily to describe laughter that is not just humorous, but also carries a hint of derision.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #28,499, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.