Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sneers, present participle sneering, past tense, past participle sneered
verb
If you sneerat someone or something, you express your contempt for them by the expression on yourface or by what you say.
There is too great a readiness to sneer at anything the Opposition does. [VERB + at]
If you go to a club and you don't look right, you're sneered at. [VERBat noun]
'Hypocrite,' he sneered. [VERB with quote]
Although some may sneer, working as a secretary can be a route to career success. [VERB]
[Also VERB that]
Synonyms: scorn, mock, ridicule, laugh More Synonyms of sneer
Sneer is also a noun.
Canete's mouth twisted in a contemptuous sneer.
He looked at us with the sneer of a man who knows he has no rivals.
More Synonyms of sneer
sneer in British English
(snɪə)
noun
1.
a facial expression of scorn or contempt, typically with the upper lip curled
2.
a scornful or contemptuous remark or utterance
verb
3. (intransitive)
to assume a facial expression of scorn or contempt
4.
to say or utter (something) in a scornful or contemptuous manner
Derived forms
sneerer (ˈsneerer)
noun
sneerful (ˈsneerful)
adjective
sneering (ˈsneering)
adjective, noun
sneeringly (ˈsneeringly)
adverb
Word origin
C16: perhaps from Low Dutch; compare North Frisian sneere contempt
sneer in American English
(snɪr)
verb intransitive
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
verb transitive
3.
to utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner
4.
to affect in a particular way by sneering
to sneer down a proposal
noun
5.
an act of sneering
6.
a sneering expression, insinuation, etc.
Derived forms
sneerer (ˈsneerer)
noun
sneeringly (ˈsneeringly)
adverb
Word origin
ME sneren, akin to Fris sneere, to scorn, Dan snaere, to grin like a dog: see snarl1
Examples of 'sneer' in a sentence
sneer
Otherwise they may sneer at the bees in our bonnets.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
We are always ready to sneer at wealthy men who get involved with sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Smart people who appeared sneered and patronised the audience.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When a person is disgusted other people can tell exactly what they are feeling from those sneering lips.
Claudia Hammond EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
He wrote charming letters, but was sneering face to face.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He tried to sneer, something at which he is very bad.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Both treat honest hard-working taxpayers with sneering contempt.
The Sun (2009)
Of course, you may well sneer at that.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
After all your doubts and jeers and sneers, you may be sure that she is sure.
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
Our current telly is old-fashioned and people sneer when they see it.
The Sun (2010)
He's also had to cope with people sneering at his ability to write books at superhuman speed.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Cynics may sneer at the idealistic thought that three musicians sitting in the Wigmore can heal a torn world.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Do people sneer at him?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Newsnight won't be the same without that wonderful, sneering camel face.
The Sun (2014)
This did not impress many Twitter followers, who detected something of a sneer.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
As for the rest of us, we may sneer, but we are missing the point.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was determined to prove wrong the prison governors who, he says, sneered he could not last a year on the streets.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I don't say this to sneer at Jeremy.
The Sun (2015)
The organisation is eager to promote British fare in the face of some sneering from international critics who regard British food as solid but unimpressive.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
Who can refute a sneer?Revd. William PaleyPrinciples of Moral and Political Philosophy
Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And, without sneering, teach the rest to sneerAlexander PopeEpistle to Dr. Arbuthnot
In other languages
sneer
British English: sneer VERB
If you sneer at someone or something, your face shows that you do not like them.
I don't need any help from you,' he sneered.
American English: sneer
Brazilian Portuguese: rir-se com desdém
Chinese: 嘲笑
European Spanish: sonreír con desprecio
French: grimacer
German: spöttisch lächeln
Italian: sogghignare
Japanese: 冷笑する
Korean: 비웃다
European Portuguese: rir-se com desdém
Latin American Spanish: sonreír con desprecio
Chinese translation of 'sneer'
sneer
(snɪəʳ)
vi
讥(譏)笑 (jīxiào)
n(c)
嘲讽(諷) (cháofěng)
to sneer at sb/sth (= mock) 嘲笑某人/某事 (cháoxiào mǒurén/mǒushì)
1 (verb)
There is too great a readiness to sneer at anything they do.
Synonyms
scorn
people who scorned traditional methods
People scorn me as a single parent.
mock
I thought you were mocking me.
ridicule
I admire her for allowing them to ridicule her.
laugh
jeer
His motorcade was jeered by angry residents.
disdain
a political leader who disdained the compromises of politics
scoff
At first I scoffed at the notion.
deride
This theory is widely derided by conventional scientists.
look down on
snigger
sniff at
gibe
hold in contempt
hold up to ridicule
turn up your nose (informal)
2 (verb)
Definition
to say (something) in a scornful manner
`I wonder what you people do with your lives,' he sneered.
Synonyms
say contemptuously
snigger
The students sniggered at their teacher's embarrassing story.
1 (noun)
Best-selling authors may have to face the sneers of the literati.
Synonyms
scorn
They greeted the proposal with scorn.
ridicule
He was subjected to public ridicule.
mockery
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
jeer
the heckling and jeers of his audience
disdain
She looked at him with disdain.
snigger
gibe
snidery
2 (noun)
Definition
a facial expression showing distaste or contempt, typically with a curled upper lip
His mouth twisted in a contemptuous sneer.
Synonyms
contemptuous smile
snigger
trying to suppress a snigger
curl of the lip
Quotations
Who can refute a sneer? [Revd. William Paley – Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy]Damn with faint praise, assent with civil leer, And, without sneering, teach the rest to sneer [Alexander Pope – Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of deride
Definition
to speak of or treat with contempt or ridicule
This theory is widely derided by conventional scientists.
Synonyms
mock,
ridicule,
scorn,
knock (informal),
insult,
taunt,
sneer,
jeer,
disdain,
scoff,
detract,
flout,
disparage,
chaff,
gibe,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
pooh-pooh,
contemn
in the sense of derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
Synonyms
mockery,
laughter,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
insult,
sneering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
denigration,
disparagement,
contumely (literary),
raillery
in the sense of disdain
Definition
to refuse or reject with disdain
a political leader who disdained the compromises of politics
Synonyms
scorn,
reject,
despise,
slight,
disregard,
spurn,
undervalue,
deride,
look down on,
belittle,
sneer at,
pooh-pooh,
contemn,
look down your nose at (informal),
misprize
Nearby words of
sneer
sneakers
sneaking
sneaky
sneer
sneeze
sneezing
snicker
Synonyms of 'sneer'
sneer
Explore 'sneer' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disdain
Definition
a feeling of superiority and dislike
She looked at him with disdain.
Synonyms
contempt,
dislike,
scorn,
arrogance,
indifference,
sneering,
derision,
hauteur,
snobbishness,
contumely (literary),
haughtiness,
superciliousness
in the sense of jeer
Definition
to be derisive towards (someone)
His motorcade was jeered by angry residents.
Synonyms
mock,
hector,
deride,
heckle,
knock (informal),
barrack,
ridicule,
taunt,
sneer,
scoff,
banter,
flout,
gibe,
cock a snook at (British),
contemn (formal)
in the sense of jeer
Definition
a cry of derision
the heckling and jeers of his audience
Synonyms
mockery,
abuse,
ridicule,
taunt,
sneer,
hiss,
boo,
scoff,
hoot,
derision,
gibe,
catcall,
obloquy,
aspersion
in the sense of mock
Definition
to behave with scorn or contempt towards a person or thing
I thought you were mocking me.
Synonyms
laugh at,
insult,
tease,
ridicule,
taunt,
scorn,
sneer,
scoff,
deride,
flout,
make fun of,
wind someone up (British, slang),
poke fun at,
chaff,
take the mickey out of (informal),
jeer at,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
show contempt for,
make a monkey out of,
laugh to scorn
in the sense of mockery
Definition
ridicule, contempt, or derision
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
Synonyms
derision,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
jeering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
gibes,
contumely (literary)
in the sense of ridicule
Definition
to make fun of or mock
I admire her for allowing them to ridicule her.
Synonyms
laugh at,
mock,
make fun of,
make a fool of,
humiliate,
taunt,
sneer at,
parody,
caricature,
jeer at,
scoff at,
deride,
send up (British, informal),
lampoon,
poke fun at,
take the piss (out of) (taboo, slang),
chaff,
take the mickey out of (informal),
satirize,
pooh-pooh,
laugh out of court,
make a monkey out of,
make someone a laughing stock,
laugh to scorn
in the sense of ridicule
Definition
language or behaviour intended to humiliate or mock
He was subjected to public ridicule.
Synonyms
mockery,
scorn,
derision,
laughter,
irony,
rib,
taunting,
sneer,
satire,
jeer,
banter,
sarcasm,
chaff,
gibe,
raillery,
banter
in the sense of scoff
Definition
to speak in a scornful and mocking way about (something)
At first I scoffed at the notion.
Synonyms
scorn,
mock,
laugh at,
ridicule,
knock (informal),
scout (archaic),
taunt,
despise,
sneer,
jeer,
deride,
slag (off) (slang),
flout,
belittle,
revile,
make light of,
poke fun at,
twit,
take the piss (out of) (taboo, slang),
gibe,
pooh-pooh,
make sport of
in the sense of snigger
The students sniggered at their teacher's embarrassing story.