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

Video uploaded to social media shows the officers being battered by snowballs outside the rest rooms as dozens of parkgoers crowd around filming the cops and jeering at them. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026

The meeting often turned rowdy as residents gave thunderous applause to those speaking against and jeered those supporting it. —Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 12 Feb. 2026

Noun

Four Black commissioners, three white non-Hispanics and six Hispanics found common ground, voting 13-0 for repeal after a boisterous public debate that sometimes dissolved into shouts, jeers and catcalls. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 20 Feb. 2026

There was a second of stunned silence before the room erupted in boos and jeers. —Jj Holmes, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 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