as in to laugh
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
She sneered at me in disgust.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sneer
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Often sneered at and dismissed early in his career due to his good looks, Hartnett takes over this action flight manual and, well, soars to new heights.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sneer
Verb
But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
Written with the sneering disaffection of an ex-believer, the hundred-and-twenty-thousand-word letter argued that egalitarianism, far from improving the world, was actually responsible for most of its ills.
—Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
Often sneered at and dismissed early in his career due to his good looks, Hartnett takes over this action flight manual and, well, soars to new heights.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for sneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneer
Verb
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Asked by a reporter this week to describe the journey of her tennis career, Amanda Anisimova paused, then laughed.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
11 July 2025
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From left: Betty laughs in her armchair, and a screenshot of the video.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The Plague is exquisitely cast, from the Nickelodeon star smirk of ringleader Jake (Kayo Martin) to his cohen target Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), a genuine oddball.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
27 May 2025
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But watching a group of roughnecks on a rig in grubby overalls moving huge, long steel pipes, Dugan's smile begins to fade to a smirk.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
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My seatmate nods, smiling, even her daughter looks up from her iPad.—
Rebecca Chace
July 14,
Literary Hub,
14 July 2025
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From left: Charles Kim Haskell smiles in hospital; and is pushed in a wheelchair.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Noun
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League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.—
Greg Marotta,
New York Daily News,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Each time an audience member so much as sniggers or sneezes, money is docked from a prize pot of £250,000 ($330,000), the slightest noise costing them up to £10,000 ($13,000) each time.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
2 May 2025
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The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.—
Bing West,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2011
Noun
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And while both teams seem to be better off for the move, with each leading their respective divisions, Yankee fans are likely going to welcome Soto's return with boos and jeers.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
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Seemingly every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd reacted in unison, more so with cheers than jeers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneer. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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