sneers; sneered; sneering
1
: to smile or laugh at someone or something with an expression on your face that shows dislike and a lack of respect
—usually + at
She sneered at me in disgust.
2
: to express dislike and a lack of respect for someone or something in a very open way
—usually + at
an academic who sneers at anyone who doesn't have a PhD
Critics sneered at his first novel.
"You obviously don't know what you're talking about," she sneered.
plural sneers
: an expression on a person's face that is like a smile but that shows dislike and a lack of respect for someone or something
She looked at me with a sneer of disgust.
"They're paranoid," he said with a sneer.
also
: a statement, criticism, etc., that shows dislike and a lack of respect
The novel elicited sneers from the critics.
Cite this Entry
“Sneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/sneer. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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