snickering

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "snickering" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a quiet or suppressed laugh, often in response to something amusing or inappropriate. Example: "She couldn't help snickering at the joke he made during the serious meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If the name caused snickering, his position as an admiral's son hushed this up fast.

The Economist

Not sartorial style, by and large (I can hear the snickering about beards and sandals from here), but beer style: that is, what category a beer fits in to.

Independent

"All of a sudden, you just hear this snickering from the corner, and everybody's like, 'What?' "Sly goes, 'Man you've got to take it.' I said, 'What do you mean?' He said, 'No, you've got to take a real punch.'" Legally, Jordan couldn't be asked to take a punch, yet he willingly went for it, adding there may have been "peer pressure" but concluding "the hit is pretty epic".

Independent

"We were all snickering over 'Armageddon,' with oil drillers going into space on the Shuttle to bury nukes deep in the asteroid," Clark Chapman, an eminent planetary scientist, said.

The New Yorker

If we except the 8 or 10 rowdies in the back row there, whose thought patterns are such that they have been snickering and punching one another's shoulders all through the recital, we must concede that Mr. Burke has been successful.

The New Yorker

The editors I met were snickering about a YouTube video some Frenchmen made, lampooning White's private pipe.

The New Yorker

Gasping at the stars' enormous pads and rolling acres and their outsized fridges (empty, for the most part, except for the obligatory bottle of Cristal) and snickering at such monumental garishness and infantile taste is all right for the sub-twenty age group that "Cribs" aims at, but it's still not what we fans are after.

The New Yorker

I saw Costello rehearse and perform with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra this summer, and there was some snickering early on among the cellists and violinists.

The New Yorker

After several years in which American diplomats have inveighed against Internet censorship in China, the proposals have inspired a bit of snickering.

The New Yorker

But the stylish group in the Met's show — a lubricious, avaricious Danaë; a Fall of Man engineered by the weirdest serpent in European art, her Barbie-doll face a snickering study in toxic cuteness; an apple-cheeked, pippin-breasted Pomona seduced by the gardener Vertumnus, disguised as a hag — all demolish the assumption that Goltzius as painter was half the artist he had been as printmaker.

The New Yorker

I turned around and saw a soldier sitting on the carpet behind me, holding the Pepsi and snickering to a friend.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "snickering" to convey a sense of suppressed, often mocking or disrespectful laughter. It is particularly effective in describing reactions to situations that are considered inappropriate or absurd.

Common error

Avoid using "snickering" to describe situations of pure joy or light-hearted amusement. It carries a connotation of mockery or suppressed laughter, which can be inappropriate if genuine happiness is intended. Consider using words like "giggling" or "chuckling" instead.

Linguistic Context

The term "snickering" primarily functions as a verb or noun, describing the act or sound of suppressed laughter. As Ludwig AI highlights, it often implies a mocking or disrespectful tone, contrasting with more innocent forms of laughter. Examples show its use in describing reactions to inappropriate or absurd situations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "snickering" is a verb and noun used to describe suppressed laughter, often with a mocking or disrespectful tone. As Ludwig AI clearly describes, it is grammatically correct and commonly found in News & Media. While versatile, care should be taken to avoid misusing it for genuine amusement. Related phrases include "suppressed laughter" and "laughing up one's sleeve", each with slightly different nuances. By understanding its connotations and contexts, writers can effectively use "snickering" to convey subtle expressions of amusement or derision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sniggering

A direct synonym, carrying the same connotation of a stifled, often disrespectful laugh.

laughing up one's sleeve

This idiom describes secretly laughing at something, which is very similar to the hidden nature of "snickering".

suppressed laughter

Focuses on the act of holding back laughter, similar to "snickering" which implies a more restrained sound.

chuckling inwardly

Highlights the internal nature of the laughter, similar to how "snickering" is often a subtle expression.

smothered chuckle

Emphasizes the attempt to quiet a chuckle, making it less overt than "snickering".

giggling quietly

Indicates a softer, often more innocent form of laughter compared to the potentially derisive undertones of "snickering".

mirthless laughter

Suggests a type of laughter devoid of true amusement, often cynical or sarcastic, which can be an element of "snickering".

chortling softly

Suggests a more pleased or self-satisfied form of quiet laughter compared to "snickering".

smirking audibly

Combines a facial expression with a sound, suggesting a more arrogant or knowing form of quiet laughter than simply "snickering".

tittering

Implies a nervous or self-conscious laughter, differing from the often mocking nature of "snickering".

FAQs

How to use "snickering" in a sentence?

You can use "snickering" to describe a quiet, suppressed laugh, often indicating amusement at something others might find inappropriate. For example, "Their classmates start "snickering" during the serious presentation".

What can I say instead of "snickering"?

You can use alternatives like "giggling", "chuckling", or "smirking" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "snickering" or "sniggering"?

"Snickering" and "sniggering" are often used interchangeably to describe suppressed laughter, but "sniggering" can sometimes carry a more negative or malicious connotation.

What's the difference between "snickering" and "giggling"?

"Snickering" usually implies a suppressed laugh with a hint of mockery or inappropriateness, while "giggling" generally refers to a light, often childish, expression of amusement.