sneer

1 of 2

verb

ˈsnir 

sneered; sneering; sneers

intransitive verb

1

: to smile or laugh with facial contortions that express scorn or contempt

2

: to speak or write in a scornfully jeering manner

transitive verb

: to utter with a sneer

sneerer noun

sneer

2 of 2

noun

: the act of sneering

also : a sneering expression or remark

Synonyms

Verb

• laugh
• smile

Choose the Right Synonym for sneer

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 sneer in a Sentence

Verb

“You obviously don't know what you're talking about,” she sneered.

Noun

She looked at me with a sneer of disgust.

“They're paranoid,” he said with a sneer.

The novel elicited sneers from the critics.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Norton, meanwhile, is having the time of his life sneering and rolling his eyes at the two younger men who have somehow become his boss. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025

The vintage tinges act as a motif throughout the track, backing Mr. Fantasy’s sing-talk approach that really showcases his vocal chops with his sneering falsetto on the pre-chorus and chorus. —Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025

Noun

Jacob sneers, but doesn’t even wait for his son to answer. —Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 15 Aug. 2025

The single, meanwhile, is ushered in with a gripping bass line and an undercurrent of keyboards until Osbourne makes his grand vocal entrance, all sneers and snarls. —Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 23 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

probably akin to Middle High German snerren to chatter, gossip — more at snore

First Known Use

Verb

1680, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1707, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sneer

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

Kids Definition

sneer

1 of 2 verb

ˈsni(ə)r 

1

: to smile or laugh with expressions of scorn

2

: to speak or write in a scorning manner

sneerer noun

sneer

2 of 2 noun

: a sneering expression or remark