Sneer Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Published on September 4, 2025
Sneer refers to smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner. e.g., He sneered at the suggestion that he was wrong.
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Sneer Definitions
To utter or say something in a scornful manner.
She sneered that it was the worst performance she had ever seen.
A gesture or look of disdain.
The sneer on his face was unmistakable.
A scornful or mocking smile, remark, or tone.
She gave a sneer when asked if she enjoyed the movie.
A facial expression that conveys scorn or derision.
His sneer made her feel unwelcome.
A contemptuous or mocking comment or act.
His remarks were met with a sneer by the audience.
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To look down upon with a sense of superiority.
He sneered at the thought of having to apologize.
To express disdain or contempt through facial expression or verbal cues.
He sneered at their fashion choices.
A derisive or scornful action or speech aimed to belittle.
The critics' sneer at the new play was harsh.
To smirk or laugh in a way that shows disrespect.
They sneered at the idea of leaving early.
To ridicule or mock someone or something with a scornful expression or tone.
She was often sneered at by her peers for her unconventional choices.
A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip.
A scornful tone or statement.
To assume a scornful or derisive facial expression.
To speak in a scornful or derisive manner.
To utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner.
(intransitive) To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn
(transitive) To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.
To sneer fulsome lies at a person
"Now here's someone who should attend privilege workshops," sneered she.
A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.
A display of contempt; scorn.
To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.
To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively.
I could be content to be a little sneared at.
To show mirth awkwardly.
And sneers as learnedly as they,Like females o'er their morning tea.
Midas, exposed to all their jeers,Had lost his art, and kept his ears.
The fop, with learning at defiance,Scoffs at the pedant and science.
To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person.
"A ship of fools," he sneered.
To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers.
Nor sneered nor bribed from virtue into shame.
The act of sneering.
A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt.
A facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
A contemptuous or scornful remark
Express through a scornful smile;
She sneered her contempt
Smile contemptuously;
She sneered at her little sister's efforts to play the song on the piano
Sneer Snonyms
Scorn
Open disrespect for someone or something.
His open scorn for authority got him in trouble.
Disdain
The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's consideration.
She viewed their concerns with disdain.
Contempt
The feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration or worthless.
She looked at the mess with contempt.
Mockery
Teasing or contemptuous language or behavior.
His attempt at cooking was met with mockery from his friends.
Scoff
Speak to someone or about something in a scornfully derisive or mocking way.
They scoffed at the idea of ever being friends.
Derision
Contemptuous ridicule or mockery.
The plan was met with derision by the team.
Jeer
To make rude and mocking remarks, typically in a loud voice.
The crowd jeered at the losing team.
Taunt
A remark made in order to anger, wound, or provoke someone.
The bullies taunted him with sneers about his clothes.
Insult
Speak to or treat with disrespect or scornful abuse.
The insult was delivered with a sneer.
Ridicule
The subjection of someone or something to mockery and derision.
He faced ridicule for his outdated ideas.
Sneer Idioms & Phrases
Sneer at danger
To face danger with contempt or disregard.
The hero sneered at danger, rushing in without fear.
With a sneer in one's voice
Speaking in a way that expresses scorn or disdain.
He rejected the offer with a sneer in his voice.
Wipe that sneer off your face
A demand to stop looking contemptuous or smug.
The teacher told the student to wipe that sneer off his face.
Sneer Example Sentences
With a sneer, she dismissed their warnings as irrelevant.
Despite the sneer in his voice, she stood her ground.
Every time I suggested an idea, he responded with a sneer.
Her sneer made it clear she didn't think much of the plan.
Their attempts at reconciliation were met with a sneer.
He wore a constant sneer as he walked through the halls of his old school.
She could hardly conceal her sneer when she saw the homemade costume.
The sneer on her face when she looked at his artwork was heartbreaking.
The book review was a thinly veiled sneer at the author's latest work.
With a sneer, he turned down the offer of help.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide sneer into syllables?
Sneer is not divided into syllables as it consists of only one syllable.
Why is it called sneer?
"Sneer" likely derives from the Scandinavian word "snyrja," which means to snort or scorn, aptly reflecting the contemptuous expression or comment it describes.
What is a stressed syllable in sneer?
In "sneer," the single syllable is stressed: [snɪər] or [snɪr] depending on the accent.
What is the verb form of sneer?
"Sneer" itself is the base form of the verb. The third-person singular present is "sneers," the present participle is "sneering," and the simple past and past participle form is "sneered."
What is the pronunciation of sneer?
Sneer is pronounced as /snɪər/ or /snɪr/.
How is sneer used in a sentence?
"Sneer" is used to describe the act of expressing scorn or contempt, e.g., He couldn't hide his sneer at the amateur performance.
What is the root word of sneer?
The root of "sneer" is believed to be from the Scandinavian "snyrja," meaning to snort or express disdain.
How many syllables are in sneer?
There is one syllable in "sneer."
What is the second form of sneer?
The second form of "sneer" is "sneered," which is the simple past tense.
What is another term for sneer?
Another term for "sneer" could be "scorn" or "derision" when used as a noun, and "mock" or "ridicule" when used as a verb.
What is the singular form of sneer?
The singular form is "sneer."
Is sneer an abstract noun?
Yes, when "sneer" is used as a noun, it refers to an abstract concept of scorn or derision.
Is sneer a negative or positive word?
"Sneer" is a negative word; it conveys contempt or derision.
Is sneer a collective noun?
No, "sneer" is not a collective noun.
Is the sneer term a metaphor?
"Sneer" can be used metaphorically to describe disdainful behavior or attitudes.
Which determiner is used with sneer?
Determiners such as "a," "the," and possessive pronouns can be used with "sneer," depending on the context.
Which vowel is used before sneer?
The article "a" is used before "sneer" because it starts with a consonant sound.
What is the first form of sneer?
The first form of "sneer" is "sneer," used in the present tense.
What is the plural form of sneer?
The plural form is "sneers."
Is sneer a noun or adjective?
"Sneer" is primarily used as a noun and a verb, but not as an adjective.
Which preposition is used with sneer?
Prepositions such as "at" or "in response to" can be used with "sneer," depending on what the scorn is directed at.
What part of speech is sneer?
"Sneer" can be both a verb and a noun.
What is the opposite of sneer?
The opposite of "sneer" could be "smile" or "praise," depending on the context.
Is sneer an adverb?
No, "sneer" is not an adverb.
Is sneer a countable noun?
Yes, when used as a noun, "sneer" is countable (e.g., "He had a sneer for every comment").
Which article is used with sneer?
The article "a" is used with "sneer" when referring to a singular instance; "the" is used for specific references.
What is the third form of sneer?
The third form of "sneer" is "sneered," used as the past participle.
Is sneer a vowel or consonant?
The word "sneer" begins with a consonant.
Is the word sneer imperative?
"Sneer" can be used in the imperative mood when giving a command, although this usage is rare and context-specific.
Is the word sneer Gerund?
Yes, "sneering" is the gerund form of the verb "sneer."
Is the word “sneer” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In sentences like "He gave a sneer," "sneer" is a direct object. The word does not typically function as an indirect object.
Which conjunction is used with sneer?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "while" can be used with "sneer," depending on the sentence structure.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
