Scorn vs. Sneer — What's the Difference?

A feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for someone or something

A sneer is a facial expression of scorn or disgust characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip, known also as curling the lip or turning up the nose. In The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin defined a "sneer" as "the upper lip being retracted in such a manner that the canine tooth on one side of the face alone is shown" Darwin related the sneer to the snarl observed in non-human animals, particularly carnivores, observing that: The uncovering of the canine tooth is the result of a double movement.

Feel or express contempt or disdain for

A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip.

Contempt or disdain felt toward a person or object considered despicable or unworthy

A scornful tone or statement.

The expression of such an attitude in behavior or speech; derision

To assume a scornful or derisive facial expression.

The state of being despised or dishonored

To speak in a scornful or derisive manner.

(Archaic) One spoken of or treated with contempt.

To utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner.

To consider or treat as contemptible or unworthy

(intransitive) To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn

To reject or refuse with derision

(transitive) To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.

To consider or reject (doing something) as beneath one's dignity

A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.

(transitive) To feel or display contempt or disdain for something or somebody; to despise.

A display of contempt; scorn.

(transitive) To reject, turn down.

To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.

(transitive) To refuse to do something, as beneath oneself.

To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively.

(intransitive) To scoff, to express contempt.

To show mirth awkwardly.

(uncountable) Contempt or disdain.

To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person.

(countable) A display of disdain; a slight.

To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers.

(countable) An object of disdain, contempt, or derision.

The act of sneering.

Extreme and lofty contempt; haughty disregard; that disdain which springs from the opinion of the utter meanness and unworthiness of an object.

A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt.

An act or expression of extreme contempt.

A facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls

An object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision.

A contemptuous or scornful remark

To hold in extreme contempt; to reject as unworthy of regard; to despise; to contemn; to disdain.

Express through a scornful smile;

To treat with extreme contempt; to make the object of insult; to mock; to scoff at; to deride.

Smile contemptuously;

To scoff; to mock; to show contumely, derision, or reproach; to act disdainfully.

Lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike;

Open disrespect for a person or thing

Look down on with disdain;

Reject with contempt;