What does snickered mean?
Snickered is the past-tense form of snicker, a verb meaning to laugh briefly and quietly, usually in a way that suggests trying to suppress the laugh. The sound may be sharp, and it can convey amusement, embarrassment, or mild mockery. It is especially common in North American English and often appears in narrative descriptions, such as saying that a group snickered at a joke or that someone tried not to snicker. Snickered is related in meaning to sniggered, although sniggered more strongly suggests ridicule or derision. The word is useful when the important detail is not simply that someone laughed, but that the laugh was small, restrained, and often difficult to conceal.
verbTo laugh in a short, quiet, or suppressed manner, often with a sharp or mocking sound.
- To laugh in a short, quiet, or suppressed manner, often with a sharp or mocking sound.
"She snickered at the joke and quickly looked away."
"The boys snickered when the teacher turned toward the blackboard."
"She tried to look serious, but a snicker escaped when her partner tripped."
A snicker is often the laugh that tries to stay silent—and usually reveals that someone has heard something they were not supposed to notice.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snickered come from?
Snicker is an imitative verb formed in the 19th century to suggest a short, sharp, or suppressed laugh. It developed within a group of English words such as snigger and snig that use similar sounds to represent quiet or sniggering laughter. The precise relationship among these forms is historically less certain than their shared modern meaning and sound imitation.
Related word forms
How snickered is actually used
Chiefly used in North American English. The word often suggests a brief, quiet, or slightly mocking laugh, although it can be used simply for a small laugh without deliberate mockery.
Easily confused with snickered
Both words describe a quiet or suppressed laugh, but snicker is more common in North American English, while snigger often carries a stronger suggestion of mockery or derision.