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sneer Definition

sneer (snir)

intransitive verb

  1. to smile derisively; show scorn or contempt as by curling the upper lip
  2. to express derision, scorn, or contempt in speech or writing

Etymology: ME sneren, akin to Fris sneere, to scorn, Dan snaere, to grin like a dog: see snarl

transitive verb

  1. to utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner
  2. to affect in a particular way by sneering to sneer down a proposal

noun

  1. an act of sneering
  2. a sneering expression, insinuation, etc.

sneer Related Forms
sneerer noun sneer·ingly adverb
sneer Synonyms

sneer

n.

smirk, grin, curl of one's lip, leer.

sneer Synonyms

sneer

v.

mock, scoff, jeer, gibe, taunt, disparage, slight, scorn, despise, underrate, decry, belittle, detract, lampoon, ridicule, deride, twit, flout, burlesque, caricature, travesty, laugh at, look down, insult, affront, disdain, curl one's lip, fleer, rally, satirize, condemn, give the raspberry*, give the Bronx cheer*; see also doubt 1.

sneer Usage Examples

Object

  • face: The next moment he turned his olive, sneering face and made a movement with his hand.

Preposition: at

  • people: Of course, Chavscum readers would never sneer at people hanging England flags from their windows, would they?
  • anyone: I sneer at anyone dull enough not to have a company car.
  • everyone: An old lady sneer at everyone few scientists are quot sur les.
  • idea: Today we can sneer at these early ideas and theories.
  • effort: Why bother going if you are going to sneer at others efforts and sacrifices!
  • man: The specialized research worker is always ready to sneer at the man who prefers the labors of mental abstraction.

Adjective modifier

  • slight: It must be done on the young man's money. ' ' Quite a model son, ' said Carver with a slight sneer.
  • contemptuous: In 1826, he gave evidence to a Parliamentary Commission on Railways at which his blunt speech and dialect drew contemptuous sneers.
  • bitter: Well, love can save us from the bitter sneer of envy and the ridiculous swagger of boastfulness.
  • good: Next chance meeting finds the best Punk sneer in Bradford, ' Dave Wilcox ' .

Modifying Another Word

  • even: The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.
  • just: The whole article is just sneering from on high.
  • not: Our father could not sneer, least of all at the blunders of a child.
  • n't: And do n't sneer at conventional worship and preaching.
  • openly: So-called " edit wars " dominated the online discussions, biases were legitimized as " another point of view " and specialists openly sneered.
  • often: It often sneers at potentially life-saving non-pharmaceutical cancer remedies put forward by doctors, like Dr. Vernon Coleman.

Noun used with modifier

  • traitor: Within its shade we'll live and die, Tho cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here.

Preposition: of

  • command: A wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command did, however, come to mind.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • down: By the time the scooter boys were doing battle with Rockers on the beaches, the elite were sneering down from another position.
sneer Quotes

I've an irritating chuckle, I've a celebrated sneer, I've an entertaining snigger, I've a fascinating leer. To everybody's prejudice I know a thing or two; I can tell a woman's age in half a minuteöand I do. But although I try to make myself as pleasant as I can, Yet everybody says I'm such a disagreeable man!

—Gilbert, Sir W(illiam) S(chwenck)

He cultivated to perfection the sneer which he used like an oyster-knife, inserting it into the shell of his victim, exposing him with a quick-turn of the wrist, and finally flipping him over and inviting his audience to discard him as tainted and inedible.

—Annan, Noe«  l Gilroy, Baron

Sapping a solemn creed with solemn sneer.

—Rochdale

Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And without sneering, teach the rest to sneer; Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike, Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.

—Pope, Alexander

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