Definition
to speak or behave disrespectfully towards something or someone, often suggesting that it is ridiculous or unworthy of respect.
Pronunciation
US English
UK English
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Excerpts from News Articles
1
Dominion, a voting technology company, says the right-wing network trashed its reputation when its top talent promoted false claims that Dominion machines rigged the 2020 election. In the run-up to the trial, Fox has faced severe embarrassment following the release of text messages that showed some of its most famous opinion hosts scoffing at Trump’s claims, which they nevertheless promoted on air, and top executives warning that telling the truth to viewers would be bad for business. Dominion must prove that Fox acted with actual malice in promoting the falsehoods in order to win damages from the network.
2
Christopher Kise, a lawyer for Trump’s businesses, said the former president spent nearly seven hours answering questions about his “extraordinary business success” and that “everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place” once the facts are out in the open.
3
Nearly a year ago, as Republican-appointed U.S. Supreme Court justices prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade, Democrats were confident that the ruling would spark a backlash from voters. GOP officials heard the predictions — and scoffed .
4
After that NAACP Florida State Conference vote was cast in March, DeSantis scoffed at the notion during a public event.
5
Garcia allegedly said he’d considered the psychological effects and made his peace with it, adding that while he preferred to kill people in another state, he was okay with killing some locals. When the agent asked if he could bear the burden of killing 50 targets if it meant making a lot of money, Garcia scoffed , according to the affidavit.
6
In a statement, Whitehouse scoffed at the idea that Crow would have bought Thomas’s properties “and deck them out for your family members to continue living in” as simply a friend.
7
And even Democrats who scoff at the idea of a witch hunt will admit to their own insecurities about the New York DA’s move. Of all the things to level at Trump, they will think inwardly – the attempted insurrection, the move to overthrow democracy, the begging for fake votes in Georgia – you bring this up?
8
“When the facts of this success, and not politically engineered soundbites, are out in the open, everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place.”
9
Back in 2000, as football was riding the wave of Cool Britannia and it became socially acceptable for professional people in the workplace to take part in “footy banter”, Keane warned that the suits turning up in corporate boxes, drinking free booze and scoffing canapes were ruining the atmosphere at home matches.
10
I suspect, too, that my Gen Z babysitter may shun the Noughties romcoms readily available on my Netflix account and, instead, opt for YouTube or scroll TikTok. They’d definitely want my wifi password. And only £5 an hour? They would, understandably, scoff at that given the average hourly rate for babysitting in the UK these days is between £8 and £10.
11
“The transactions at the center of this case were wildly profitable for the banks and for the Trump entities,” Kise said. “When the facts of this success, and not politically engineered soundbites, are out in the open, everyone will scoff at the notion any fraud took place.”
12
Tejinder Singh, representing the whistleblowers, scoffs at that interpretation, calling it an after-the-fact justification for breaking the law.
13
Those of us with small kitchens know that non-essential appliances, tools or devices are not additions that should be made without real forethought. When air fryers rose in popularity a couple years ago, some scoffed (“It’s just a convection oven!”) — but for the most part, home cooks were delighted to create tasty, crispy dishes with ease, and air fryers earned a spot on many countertops.
14
The former president told the trial judge, Lewis Kaplan, that he would not be attending the hearing as he did not want to disrupt New York’s traffic with his motorcade. Kaplan scoffed at that explanation.
15
Nichols said the general problem is that the constitution is “too easy to access.” Curtin scoffed at that explanation and proponents of the new rules are hard-pressed to cite examples of abuse. Curtin said that one previous avenue for abuse, amendments that were designed to affect a single special interest, was curtailed in 2015. He and others have been calling the bluff of those pushing to raise the threshold to a three-fifths majority.
16
McCarthy scoffed at the political drama ahead of the upcoming vote. “I want you to see as the clock goes up, I want you to write stories like, I’m teetering, whether I can win or not, and the whole world hangs in the balance,” he said sarcastically. “And then I want you to write a story after it passes, Would the president sit down and negotiate?”
17
And anyone scoffing at the vanity of stressing over silver strands can also rejoice: The researchers also say studies like this are putting us one step closer to curing cancer. (Seriously.)
18
On the season four premiere of HBO's "Succession," Greg Hirsch's date arrives at Logan Roy's birthday party carrying a tartan Burberry tote bag that retails for {$}2,890. One of the show's central characters, Tom Wamsgans, scoffs at the luxury bag, describing it as "ludicrously capacious."
19
In defense of Biden, Williams pointed to former President Ronald Reagan, a Republican who ran for his second term at age 73. “He won in a landslide,” Williams said. Rove scoffed at that comparison.
20
As we’ve discussed, Republicans keep pushing this line. Nearly a year ago, as Republican-appointed U.S. Supreme Court justices prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade, Democrats were confident that the ruling would spark a backlash from voters, but GOP officials heard the predictions — and scoffed .
21
McCarthy has almost no room for error with his slim five-seat majority hold on power in the House. He has scoffed at the drama bearing down on him , mocking public interest at the will-he-or-won’t-he anticipation of the embattled Republican speaker’s ability to bring his fellow Republicans in line.
22
But Ellsberg scoffed at the notion that Teixeira has done any serious harm to the country.
23
Biden world has long scoffed at the notion that they should gear their approach around the whims of cable or Twitter at that. And the campaign’s strategy with its launch day, which also featured Vice President Kamala Harris speaking about reproductive rights at an event in Maryland, appeared to reflect a broader awareness about how Americans consume their news now.
24
Cato scoffed . “That’s why you shacked with him for a year or so because you were afraid of him?”
25
As memorable as Sanders’ draft swag remains, wearing a track suit on draft night or the jean shorts Brett Favre wore would be scoffed at today with top players gathering for a televised event that has become as much runway show as sporting event .
26
Kenner, the lead defense attorney, scoffed at the government’s allegations in his closing argument.
27
Opponents of the former president – who has a long and well-documented history of undermining Brazil’s democratic institutions and electronic voting system – scoffed at those claims.
28
As it happened, that year, 2005 , I had been invited to be a Man Booker judge, a little incongruously since, in my role then as Literary Editor at the London Evening Standard, rather than getting soundly behind all such trade promotions as I should have done, I had annually scoffed at its mishaps, mirthfully calling it a literary harvest festival and saying the judges were being asked to choose between an apple and orange and so forth.
29
As memorable as Sanders' draft swag remains, wearing a track suit on draft night or the jean shorts Brett Favre wore would be scoffed at today with top players gathering for a televised event that has become as much runway show as sporting event.
30
Carroll scoffed at Tacopina’s question. “I can dance forwards and backwards in four-inch heels,” she said.
31
Erin Perrine, a spokesperson for Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis, scoffed at the idea that Harris would be helpful to Biden’s reelection chances.
32
Kelley drew a scoff from the judge when he suggested that his client is only being accused of sharing classified information with a small group of people on the internet.
33
The veep scoffed at the suggestion his furry garment could be causing PC problems.
34
Many folks once scoffed at the idea that people would rent their homes to strangers — including Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky's own mother.
35
When squad commander Mazhor — a call sign meaning “rich guy” — presents the plan, one fighter scoffs . “He thinks that one person is a robot capable of assaulting a trench, securing the enemy’s logistics hub, capturing an airport, stealing an MiG jet and landing it in Moscow, right?” Ihor said.