noun / verb

snicker

SNIK-ur/ˈsnɪkər/

A quiet, mocking or suppressed laugh.

He hides a mocking snicker behind his hand.

A white young adult hides a quiet mocking laugh behind hand while looking at a friend's mismatched socks, mild scene.

Etymology

The word originally described a half-suppressed laugh and may imitate its sound. In this sense, the restrained laughter conveys mockery or disrespect.

More examples

He snickered at the unfortunate remark.
She tried to suppress a snicker.
The students were snickering over a private joke.

Forms

snicker · snickers · snickered · snickering

Similar words

chuckle: A chuckle is a quiet laugh that need not be mocking; a snicker often has a disrespectful edge.
giggle: A giggle is a light, repeated laugh; a snicker is more suppressed or sly.