as in smiled
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
they brushed off his sneer and went about their business
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Recent Examples of sneered
Texas and Florida were COVID-19 wildfires, where the rates of infection soared due to the irresponsible actions of their respective governors who allowed businesses to remain open, all but sneered at immunization and encouraged people to gather maskless at public venues.
—
Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The universities have sneered at the people who are feeding them.
—Richard K. Vedder, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Be the person folks used to have so much admiration for, versus someone sneered at when his name is mentioned.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Men sneered contemptuously at them, while teenagers used their names as insults.
—Mikhail Zygar, Vanity Fair, 7 Jan. 2026
A lot of critics and intellectual types sneered at its sentimentality and its love story.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
This past week Trump sneered at a reporter who asked about the Argentina bailout.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
The universities have sneered at the people who are feeding them.
—Richard K. Vedder, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2026
Be the person folks used to have so much admiration for, versus someone sneered at when his name is mentioned.
—Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 27 Jan. 2026
Men sneered contemptuously at them, while teenagers used their names as insults.
—Mikhail Zygar, Vanity Fair, 7 Jan. 2026
A lot of critics and intellectual types sneered at its sentimentality and its love story.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
This past week Trump sneered at a reporter who asked about the Argentina bailout.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneered
Verb
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The mom-to-be smiled down at her husband in one photo, and was pictured standing by herself outside in a few others.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
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Told that the women would have won if the event were singles matches only and the endurance issue would have mattered a bit more, Waters smiled.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Over the course of the afternoon, guests laughed about, grappled with, and sometimes politely skirted around the same gendered tropes that have existed for centuries, the conversation turning serious in some moments and silly in others.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
22 Apr. 2026
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Parishioners prayed, laughed and shared a meal.—
María Teresa Hernández,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sneered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneered. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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