sneer

[ sneer ]

verb (used without object)

1. to smile, laugh, or contort the face in a manner that shows scorn or contempt:

   They sneered at his pretensions.

2. to speak or write in a manner expressive of derision or scorn.

   Synonyms: gibe

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or say in a sneering manner.

noun

1. a look or expression of derision, scorn, or contempt.
2. a derisive or scornful utterance, especially one more or less covert or insinuative.

   Synonyms: jeer, gibe, scoff

3. an act of sneering.

sneer

/ snɪə /

noun

1. a facial expression of scorn or contempt, typically with the upper lip curled
2. a scornful or contemptuous remark or utterance

verb

1. intr to assume a facial expression of scorn or contempt
2. to say or utter (something) in a scornful or contemptuous manner

Derived Forms

• ˈsneeringly, adverb
• ˈsneering, adjectivenoun
• ˈsneerful, adjective
• ˈsneerer, noun

Other Words From

• sneerer noun
• sneerful adjective
• sneering·ly adverb
• sneerless adjective
• sub·sneer noun
• un·sneering adjective
• un·sneering·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneer¹

First recorded in 1545–55; originally, “to snort”; compare Frisian (northern dialect) sneere “scornful remark,” snarl ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of sneer¹

C16: perhaps from Low Dutch; compare North Frisian sneere contempt

Synonym Study

See scoff ¹.

Example Sentences

Signing on to “The Apprentice” sent Strong’s prep work into overdrive, including studying video of Cohn to learn his “sui generis” voice — a hectoring New York sneer that’s authoritative but rarely loud — and interviewing Cohn profiler Ken Auletta.

From Los Angeles Times

Trump used to sneer that Kennedy was a "Radical Left Democrat," which is false, and that he's the "dumbest member" of the Kennedy clan, which is fair enough.

From Salon

Sir Keir dismissed the idea as "desperate" and said the UK doesn't need a a "teenage Dad's Army" but Mr Sunak hit back with "all he can do is sneer at it because you don't have any ideas".

From BBC

The song lyrics, “I pick up a banjo and they sneer at me/Cause I’m Black myself,” really stick out to me.

From Salon

They are aware that much of the world is hostile toward their country and their religion, but rather than try to deal with the hatred, they tend to sneer at it, defy it, and proudly proclaim a determination to go it alone, bolstered by a pride in how they transformed their land into an economic powerhouse and improbably won a series of multifront wars.

From Slate

Related Words

• belittle
• deride
• grin
• jeer
• scoff
• taunt