Sneer vs. Smile — What's the Difference?

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.

A smile is formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile.

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

A facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and indicating pleasure, amusement, or derision.

A scornful tone or statement.

To have or form a smile.

To assume a scornful or derisive facial expression.

To look with favor or approval

To speak in a scornful or derisive manner.

To express cheerful acceptance or equanimity

To utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner.

To express with a smile

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

A facial expression comprised by flexing the muscles of both ends of one's mouth, often showing the front teeth, without vocalisation, and in humans is a common involuntary or voluntary expression of happiness, pleasure, amusement, goodwill, or anxiety.

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

(figurative) Favour; propitious regard.

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

A drink bought by one person for another.

A display of contempt; scorn.

(ambitransitive) To have (a smile) on one's face.

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

(transitive) To express by smiling.

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

(intransitive) To express amusement, pleasure, or love and kindness.

To show mirth awkwardly.

(intransitive) To look cheerful and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy.

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

(intransitive) To be propitious or favourable; to countenance.

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

To express amusement, pleasure, moderate joy, or love and kindness, by the features of the face; to laugh silently.

The act of sneering.

To express slight contempt by a look implying sarcasm or pity; to sneer.

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

To look gay and joyous; to have an appearance suited to excite joy; as, smiling spring; smiling plenty.

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

To be propitious or favorable; to favor; to countenance; - often with on; as, to smile on one's labors.

A contemptuous or scornful remark

To express by a smile; as, to smile consent; to smile a welcome to visitors.

Express through a scornful smile;

To affect in a certain way with a smile.

Smile contemptuously;

The act of smiling; a peculiar change or brightening of the face, which expresses pleasure, moderate joy, mirth, approbation, or kindness; - opposed to frown.

A somewhat similar expression of countenance, indicative of satisfaction combined with malevolent feelings, as contempt, scorn, etc; as, a scornful smile.

Favor; countenance; propitiousness; as, the smiles of Providence.

Gay or joyous appearance; as, the smiles of spring.

A facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

Change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

Express with a smile;