sneer

1 of 2

verb

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
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. they brushed off his sneer and went about their business 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
One one end, the bratty sneering of Blink-182’s throwback Warped Tour energy. Mars Salazar, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Oct. 2024 The straight-up sneering villainous turns from Kemen and Eärien make the goings on there seem simplistic, and neither Elendil nor Miriel have been too caught up in the events to develop as characters. Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2024
Noun
Whatever happened to common courtesies in lieu of belittlements, sneers or vilification? Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 3 Nov. 2024 The Wilfried Zaha mural at Selhurst Park (The Athletic) What has never changed are the gripes and sneers that have attached themselves to this part of SE25, in the London borough of Croydon, for longer than Palace fans would probably wish to remember. Daniel Taylor, The Athletic, 28 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sneer 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sneer was in 1680

Dictionary Entries Near sneer

Cite this Entry

“Sneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sneer. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sneer

1 of 2 verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on sneer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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