Laugh vs. Snicker — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 5, 2024
Laugh expresses amusement or joy overtly and audibly, while snicker is a quieter, often mocking or covert laugh.
Difference Between Laugh and Snicker
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Laughing is a common and expressive reaction that involves vocal bursts of sound, often as a result of amusement, happiness, or relief. In contrast, snickering is a more subdued and often secretive form of laughter, usually conveying derision or amusement at someone else’s expense.
Laughing can be loud and contagious, spreading joy or mirth among groups, effectively enhancing social bonds. On the other hand, snickering tends to be restrained and may not be as infectious, often serving to subtly exclude or mock others within a social context.
In terms of social acceptability, laughing is generally viewed positively, perceived as an open expression of positive emotions. Whereas snickering might be seen negatively, associated with sarcasm, contempt, or disrespect.
Different situations call for different types of laughter. Laughing is appropriate in a wide range of joyful or relieving situations, such as hearing a good joke or experiencing a happy surprise. In contrast, snickering is more likely to be appropriate in situations where humor is derived at the awkwardness or misfortune of others.
The physical act of laughing involves significant facial and sometimes body movements, including opening the mouth and making audible sounds. Conversely, snickering involves minimal facial expressions and quieter, nasal-toned sounds, which can be almost inaudible.
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Comparison Chart
Volume
Loud and clear
Quiet and subdued
Emotion Conveyed
Joy, amusement, relief
Mockery, amusement at another's expense
Social Effect
Bonds groups, spreads joy
May exclude or mock others
Situational Appropriateness
Broadly appropriate in joyful situations
Often specific to derisive humor
Physical Expression
Full facial and body movements
Minimal facial expressions, nasal sounds
Compare with Definitions
Laugh
To react with audible chuckles or guffaws.
The crowd laughed at the entertainer’s antics.
Snicker
To engage in snickering, a form of subdued, derisive laughing.
His snicker during the serious film was out of place.
Laugh
To indicate amusement through laughter.
They all laughed when the magician's trick went awry.
Snicker
To make a quiet, somewhat suppressed laugh, often sarcastic.
He snickered at the poorly constructed argument.
Laugh
To show emotion with a loud vocal expulsion of air from the lungs.
She couldn’t help but laugh out loud during the comedy show.
Snicker
To chuckle under one’s breath as a form of mockery or hidden amusement.
She snickered as her friend told a white lie.
Laugh
To express mirth or joy through audible sounds.
He laughed heartily at the joke.
Snicker
To laugh in a half-suppressed, typically scornful way.
The students snickered when the teacher slipped on a paper.
Laugh
To experience or produce laughter.
We laughed until our sides hurt.
Snicker
To emit a sly or disrespectful laugh, often covertly.
They snickered during the presentation, finding errors throughout.
Laugh
To express certain emotions, especially mirth or delight, by a series of spontaneous, usually unarticulated sounds often accompanied by corresponding facial and bodily movements.
Snicker
To utter a partly stifled laugh
"I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker" (T.S. Eliot).
Laugh
To show or feel amusement or good humor
An experience we would laugh about later on.
Snicker
A partly stifled laugh.
Laugh
To feel or express derision or contempt; mock
I had to laugh when I saw who my opponent was.
Snicker
A stifled or broken laugh.
Laugh
To feel a triumphant or exultant sense of well-being
You won't be laughing when the truth comes out.
Snicker
A player who snicks the ball.
Laugh
To produce sounds resembling laughter
Parrots laughing and chattering in the trees.
Snicker
(intransitive) To emit a snicker, a stifled or broken laugh.
Laugh
To affect or influence by laughter
Laughed the speaker off the stage.
Laughed the proposal down.
Snicker
(transitive) To utter through a laugh of this kind.
Laugh
To say with a laugh
He laughed his delight at the victory.
Snicker
(of a horse) To whinny.
Laugh
The act of laughing.
Snicker
To laugh slyly; to laugh in one's sleeve.
Laugh
The sound of laughing; laughter.
Snicker
To laugh with audible catches of voice, as when persons attempt to suppress loud laughter.
Laugh
(Informal) Something amusing, absurd, or contemptible; a joke
The solution they recommended was a laugh.
Snicker
A half suppressed, broken laugh.
Laugh
Often laughs(Informal) Fun; amusement
Went along just for laughs.
Snicker
A disrespectful laugh
Laugh
An expression of mirth particular to the human species; the sound heard in laughing; laughter.
His deep laughs boomed through the room.
Snicker
Laugh quietly
Laugh
Something that provokes mirth or scorn.
Your new hat's an absolute laugh, dude.
Laugh
A fun person.
Laugh
(intransitive) To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
There were many laughing children running on the school grounds.
Laugh
To be or appear cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
Laugh
To make an object of laughter or ridicule; to make fun of; to deride; to mock.
Don't laugh at my new hat, man!
Laugh
(transitive) To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
Laugh
(transitive) To express by, or utter with, laughter.
Laugh
To show mirth, satisfaction, or derision, by peculiar movement of the muscles of the face, particularly of the mouth, causing a lighting up of the face and eyes, and usually accompanied by the emission of explosive or chuckling sounds from the chest and throat; to indulge in laughter.
Queen Hecuba laughed that her eyes ran o'er.
He laugheth that winneth.
Laugh
Fig.: To be or appear gay, cheerful, pleasant, mirthful, lively, or brilliant; to sparkle; to sport.
Then laughs the childish year, with flowerets crowned.
In Folly's cup still laughs the bubble Joy.
No wit to flatter left of all his store,No fool to laugh at, which he valued more.
Laugh
To affect or influence by means of laughter or ridicule.
Will you laugh me asleep, for I am very heavy?
I shall laugh myself to death.
Laugh
To express by, or utter with, laughter; - with out.
From his deep chest laughs out a loud applause.
Laugh
The sound of laughing
Laugh
A facial expression characteristic of a person laughing;
His face wrinkled in a silent laugh of derision
Laugh
A humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter;
He told a very funny joke
He knows a million gags
Thanks for the laugh
He laughed unpleasantly at hisown jest
Even a schoolboy's jape is supposed to have some ascertainable point
Laugh
Produce laughter
Common Curiosities
How do people usually respond to laughter?
People usually respond positively to laughter, as it can be infectious and enhance social bonds.
What typically provokes a laugh?
A laugh is typically provoked by humor, joy, or relief.
Is snickering considered rude?
Snickering can be considered rude, especially if it's perceived as mocking or exclusionary.
What are the social implications of snickering?
Snickering can have negative social implications, as it often implies mockery or secrecy.
Does laughter have health benefits?
Yes, laughter has multiple health benefits, including stress relief and an improvement in mood.
Can laughter be controlled?
Laughter can sometimes be uncontrollable, especially in situations of intense amusement or social interaction.
Why might someone choose to snicker instead of laugh openly?
Someone might choose to snicker to hide their amusement, especially if it's at something socially inappropriate or at someone's expense.
Is snickering always negative?
While often negative, snickering can sometimes be shared among friends as an inside joke.
What physiological changes occur when laughing?
Laughing can cause changes like increased heart rate and quickened breath.
Can snickering be misinterpreted?
Yes, snickering can easily be misinterpreted as malicious or derisive.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
