Is there a verb to express that short expulsion of air through the nose while you smile a bit? It isn't really a laugh, but more of a reaction. It could be something you do when you hear something you don't agree with. Like imagining a situation and then thinking
Yea, like that's gonna happen.
I initially thought scoffed, but I'm not sure anymore by the definitions I've read.
Would it make sense to use it as follows:
She's a strong girl. I couldn't help but scoff at the thought of
someone hurting her.
Best Answer
To scoff is to express derision, but not only by making a sound with the mouth or nose. One can scoff in many ways. Possibly you could use 'snort'.
Snort (Oxford Dictionaries)