as in laughing
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 sneering
Impossibly cool at 60 years old, Reznor is all swagger, with his soaring, sneering vocals sounding as strong as his first decade recording.
—
William Earl, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Where is the patriotism in sneering at America’s great achievements?
—Emilie G.c. Thompson, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
Even the epithets for the Kansas City Chiefs are built on divisional rivalry and that team’s long track record of success, not sneering dismissiveness.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
Pluribus, despite its own existence as a piece of populist fiction, depicts all the readers of Carol’s Wycaro books from the perspective of her sneering disdain.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Democrats gathered for a conference hosted by progressives were sneering at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who was not present, for shutting down popular new faces based on disagreements over specific issues.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
But the game has a way of sneering at coronations.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Unlike The Beatles, Oasis arrived in the US with trademark sneering entitlement.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
William Earl, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
Where is the patriotism in sneering at America’s great achievements?
—Emilie G.c. Thompson, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
Even the epithets for the Kansas City Chiefs are built on divisional rivalry and that team’s long track record of success, not sneering dismissiveness.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 30 Nov. 2025
Pluribus, despite its own existence as a piece of populist fiction, depicts all the readers of Carol’s Wycaro books from the perspective of her sneering disdain.
—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025
Democrats gathered for a conference hosted by progressives were sneering at Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who was not present, for shutting down popular new faces based on disagreements over specific issues.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
But the game has a way of sneering at coronations.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Unlike The Beatles, Oasis arrived in the US with trademark sneering entitlement.
—Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneering
Verb
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Even Wilder was completely engaged, spotting colorful beadwork and laughing as Alvin played.—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Feb. 2026
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More of the Clyburn family is seen throughout the trailer crying, laughing and living in Montana.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Security video shows a smiling Sade Robinson playing beer pong alongside Maxwell Anderson at a second bar on their date.—
Lauren A. White,
CBS News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Miller showed the struggles of a man who often has to mask his difficulties with a smiling face.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sneering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneering. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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