jeer

1 of 2

verb

ˈjir 

jeered; jeering; jeers

intransitive verb

: to speak or cry out with derision or mockery

a jeering mob

transitive verb

: to deride with mocking and insulting remarks or sounds : taunt

was jeered by the crowd when he tried to speak

jeerer noun

jeeringly

ˈjir-iŋ-lē 

adverb

jeer

2 of 2

noun

: a mocking and insulting remark or sound : taunt

the jeers of the crowd

Synonyms of jeer

Verb

• ridicule
• mock

Noun

• snort
• sneer
• smirk
• boo
• snicker

Choose the Right Synonym for jeer

scoff, jeer, gibe, fleer, sneer, flout mean to show one's contempt in derision or mockery.

scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

Examples of jeer in a Sentence

Verb

He tried to ignore the jeering crowd.

The crowd jeered him when he struck out.

The prisoner was jeered by an angry mob.

Noun

ignored the jeers of the other team's fans and just focused on making her free throw shot

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In a particularly infamous incident, early in the strike, Art Babbitt started jeering when Walt drove across the picket line. —Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026

But after the first series of the 2026 MLB season, those same fans who were celebrating Bichette's signing a few months ago are now the same ones jeering him after an awful debut series with the Mets. —Tyler Erzberger, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

Noun

While some celebrants have greeted these caricatures with cathartic jeers and sneers, others are shocked and outraged. —Tim Brinkhof, JSTOR Daily, 1 Apr. 2026

On the Orioles’ opening day, the governor was introduced and greeted with a cacophony of boos and jeers. —Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

origin unknown

Noun

derivative of jeer entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1561, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1625, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jeer

• beer
• bier
• cheer
• clear
• dear
• deer
• drear
• ear
• fear
• fier
• gear
• hear

Kids Definition

jeer

verb

ˈji(ə)r

: to laugh at or criticize someone in a loud and angry way

jeer noun