Synonyms of sneer

sneer 1 of 2

verb

ˈsnir 

as in to laugh

to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions

She sneered at me in disgust.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• laugh
• smile
• snicker
• snigger
• snort
• sniff
• jeer
• insult
• ridicule
• disdain
• deride
• jibe
• despise
• scorn
• mock
• decry
• gibe
• taunt
• hoot
• disparage
• scoff (at)
• belittle
• tease
• catcall
• pooh
• torment
• heckle
• pooh-pooh
• bad-mouth
• jive
• rib
• ride
• razz
• put down

sneer

2 of 2

noun

as in smirk

Synonyms & Similar Words

• smirk
• snicker
• snigger
• jeer
• hiss
• snort
• jibe
• boo
• taunt
• raspberry
• razz
• gibe
• Bronx cheer
• bird
• catcall
• whistle
• hoot
• put-down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• cheer
• applause
• clapping

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sneer distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of sneer are fleer, flout, gibe, jeer, and scoff. While all these words mean "to show one's contempt in derision or mockery," sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

When is it sensible to use fleer instead of sneer?

The meanings of fleer and sneer largely overlap; however, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

When might flout be a better fit than sneer?

While the synonyms flout and sneer are close in meaning, flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

Where would gibe be a reasonable alternative to sneer?

The words gibe and sneer are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

When could jeer be used to replace sneer?

The words jeer and sneer can be used in similar contexts, but jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

In what contexts can scoff take the place of sneer?

While in some cases nearly identical to sneer, scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of sneer

Verb

Standing across the street, Nina Levene, 60, a lifelong New Yorker whose mother is a Holocaust survivor, sneered in disgust. —Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 13 Mar. 2025

Thanks to Bada$$’ captivating warmth as an actor, Unique has grown from a simple Season 1 McGuffin (when Raq needed a sneering plot opponent) to the closest thing the show has to a knight in shining armor — a young man who constantly suffers Raq’s humiliations in both business and in love. —Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025

Noun

One is Giovanni Battista Moroni’s Portrait of a Woman (ca. 1575), in which a leery-eyed woman stares down at her viewer, pressing her lips into the faintest of sneers. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 26 Mar. 2025

But for just as long, any such talk has been met with smirks and sneers from outside Connecticut. —Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2025