sneer 1 of 2

sneer

2 of 2

noun

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

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.
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 See All Example Sentences for sneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneer
Verb
  • Another adorable snap featured Bush and Ocean laughing and cuddling together on a couch.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 12 May 2025
  • The designer laughed, shook her head with a little rueful humor.
    Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Noun
  • In group settings, Edelman was good for a clip on the local news, making a wry joke about his own passing abilities, the opposing team or Brady with a smirk on his face.
    Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 6 May 2025
  • Everyone has always wondered what that smirk was all about from day one.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But Delegate General Frémaux, for one, seems pleased enough with his inspection of the dress and its wearer to grip her arms and smile broadly, and that’s not a bad sign for the future.
    Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • Ian had been handsome, popular, in love with a new girlfriend—the kind of golden boy upon whom fortune smiles.
    Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 16 May 2025
Noun
  • League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.
    Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025
  • So he must be placed in the Apparition section, next to ghosts like John Barron, sharing a snicker with Ivana.
    Greg Marotta, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Each time an audience member so much as sniggers or sneezes, money is docked from a prize pot of £250,000 ($330,000), the slightest noise costing them up to £10,000 ($13,000) each time.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 2 May 2025
  • The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.
    Bing West, Foreign Affairs, 1 Sep. 2011
Noun
  • For about 90 minutes, Edwards faced jeers, boos and pointed questions from many in the audience of 300, while 1,000 more echoed them from outside the building.
    Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Vance can be seen smiling and waving as the audience continued their jeers.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneer. Accessed 22 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on sneer

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!