sneer
1 of 2verb
ˈsnir 
sneered; sneering; sneers
intransitive verb
1
: to smile or laugh with facial contortions that express scorn or contempt
2
: to speak or write in a scornfully jeering manner
transitive verb
: to utter with a sneer
sneerer noun
sneer
2 of 2noun
: the act of sneering
also : a sneering expression or remark
Synonyms
Verb
- laugh
- smile
- snicker
- snigger
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb “You obviously don't know what you're talking about,” she sneered. they brushed off his sneer and went about their business Noun She looked at me with a sneer of disgust. “They're paranoid,” he said with a sneer. The novel elicited sneers from the critics.
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The only difference is that the unobtrusive stagehands don’t sneer. The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird would sneer down at Pierce every day. Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2022 Some folks sneer at Fleetwood Mac, especially after Nicks and Buckingham joined the band. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2022 The brand is a lightning rod for people who sneer at the luxury equipment — prices start at $1,495 — and lampoon its exercise classes. Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2022 This voluntary month of sobriety has become a cultural bomb -- some praise its money-saving, weight-losing ways; others sneer at its braggy participants. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 19 Jan. 2022 There is no chance in the world that the people who have helped her, who obviously know her situation, will sneer at receiving thanks that is not handwritten by her. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2022 Lava-red splashes oozed across the screens as Collins dug into his theatrical leanings to sneer and grimace through the lyrics, punctuating them with the song's trademark reptilian cackle. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2021 Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 6 July 2022 Backed by the potent Blackhearts, as well as stalwart manager/producer Kenny Laguna in his usual residence behind the keyboards, Jett delivered her songs with ferocity balanced by cool, a smile mixed with a sneer. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 23 June 2022 Porkalob’s Edward Rutledge sings with a defiant sneer, as a curtain on the Loeb Drama Center stage parts to reveal rum barrels stacked four high. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 Her Boleyn—the king's second wife who was, as we're constantly reminded, beheaded in 1536—takes cues from early 2000s sneer pop reminiscent of Avril, Miley, and Lily Allen. Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 28 May 2022 People of good will shouldn’t pretend that a sneer is a smile. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 But between the adenoidal sneer of his voice and the class-conscious bite of his lyrics, Elvis Costello managed to meet the moment in 1977 as punk rock was sweeping through London and making the old guard irrelevant. Al Shipley, SPIN, 30 Jan. 2022 The latest attempt to rattle the foundations of cosmology appeared as a smattering of dots pulled upward into a cosmic sneer. Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2021 Clement cuts an impressive figure in his papal robes, but his hooded eyes slide evasively to the side, and the expression on his lips seems close to a sneer. Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 19 Aug. 2021 See More
Verb
The manipulation of photos using filters is a concept that more purist photographers often sneer at. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 The only difference is that the unobtrusive stagehands don’t sneer. The New Yorker, 4 Apr. 2022 Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird would sneer down at Pierce every day. Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2022 Some folks sneer at Fleetwood Mac, especially after Nicks and Buckingham joined the band. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 9 Mar. 2022 The brand is a lightning rod for people who sneer at the luxury equipment — prices start at $1,495 — and lampoon its exercise classes. Washington Post, 22 Jan. 2022 This voluntary month of sobriety has become a cultural bomb -- some praise its money-saving, weight-losing ways; others sneer at its braggy participants. Leah Asmelash, CNN, 19 Jan. 2022 There is no chance in the world that the people who have helped her, who obviously know her situation, will sneer at receiving thanks that is not handwritten by her. Washington Post, 11 Jan. 2022 Lava-red splashes oozed across the screens as Collins dug into his theatrical leanings to sneer and grimace through the lyrics, punctuating them with the song's trademark reptilian cackle. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2021 Noun
Marlon Brando was a trendsetter with his getup in 1953'sThe Wild One, which undoubtedly remains standard rebel garb, being black leather with a sneer. Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 6 July 2022 Backed by the potent Blackhearts, as well as stalwart manager/producer Kenny Laguna in his usual residence behind the keyboards, Jett delivered her songs with ferocity balanced by cool, a smile mixed with a sneer. Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAY, 23 June 2022 Porkalob’s Edward Rutledge sings with a defiant sneer, as a curtain on the Loeb Drama Center stage parts to reveal rum barrels stacked four high. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 15 June 2022 Her Boleyn—the king's second wife who was, as we're constantly reminded, beheaded in 1536—takes cues from early 2000s sneer pop reminiscent of Avril, Miley, and Lily Allen. Perrie Samotin, Glamour, 28 May 2022 People of good will shouldn’t pretend that a sneer is a smile. New York Times, 29 Mar. 2022 But between the adenoidal sneer of his voice and the class-conscious bite of his lyrics, Elvis Costello managed to meet the moment in 1977 as punk rock was sweeping through London and making the old guard irrelevant. Al Shipley, SPIN, 30 Jan. 2022 The latest attempt to rattle the foundations of cosmology appeared as a smattering of dots pulled upward into a cosmic sneer. Quanta Magazine, 13 Dec. 2021 Clement cuts an impressive figure in his papal robes, but his hooded eyes slide evasively to the side, and the expression on his lips seems close to a sneer. Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 19 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
probably akin to Middle High German snerren to chatter, gossip — more at snore
First Known Use
Verb
1680, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
1707, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
sneer 1 of 2
verb
ˈsnir
sneered; sneering
1
: to smile or laugh while making a face that shows disrespect
2
: to speak or write in a disrespectful way
She was … careful not to seem to sneer at the rest of the islanders for their lack of education. Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Loved
Katherine Paterson, Jacob Have I Lovedsneer
2 of 2noun
: a disrespectful expression or remark
sneer 1 of 2
verb
as in to smile
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions they brushed off his sneer and went about their business Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- smile
- laugh
- snicker
- snigger
- snort
- disdain
- jeer
- insult
- ridicule
- sniff
- deride
- gibe
- jibe
- scorn
- mock
- despise
- taunt
- hoot
- decry
- catcall
- disparage
- belittle
- tease
- pooh
- torment
- pooh-pooh
- heckle
- razz
- jive
- scoff (at)
- bad-mouth
- rib
- ride
- put down
sneer
2 of 2noun
as in smirk
Synonyms & Similar Words
- smirk
- snicker
- snigger
- jeer
- hiss
- snort
- boo
- jibe
- taunt
- catcall
- razz
- gibe
- raspberry
- bird
- hoot
- whistle
- Bronx cheer
- put-down
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cheer
- applause
- clapping
Synonym Chooser
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
The meanings of fleer and sneer largely overlap; however, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.
the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity
While the synonyms flout and sneer are close in meaning, flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.
flouted the conventions of polite society
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
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
While in some cases nearly identical to sneer, scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.
scoffed at their concerns