Adjacent Words

Sneer definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SNEER, v.i. [from the root of L. naris, nose; to turn up the nose.]
1. To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular cast or countenance; "naso suspendere adunco."
2. To insinuate contempt by covert expression. I could be content to be a little sneered at.
3. To utter with grimace.
4. To show mirth awkwardly.
SNEER, n.
1. A look of contempt, or a turning up of the nose to manifest contempt; a look of disdain, derision or ridicule.
2. An expression of ludicrous scorn.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls [syn: sneer, leer]
2: a contemptuous or scornful remark v
1: express through a scornful smile; "she sneered her contempt"
2: smile contemptuously; "she sneered at her little sister's efforts to play the song on the piano"

Merriam Webster's

I. verb Etymology: probably akin to Middle High German snerren to chatter, gossip — more at snore Date: 1680 intransitive verb 1. to smile or laugh with facial contortions that express scorn or contempt 2. to speak or write in a scornfully jeering manner transitive verb to utter with a sneer Synonyms: see scoff • sneerer noun II. noun Date: 1707 the act of sneering; also a sneering expression or remark

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. a derisive smile or remark. --v. 1 intr. (often foll. by at) smile derisively. 2 tr. say sneeringly. 3 intr. (often foll. by at) speak derisively esp. covertly or ironically (sneered at his attempts). Derivatives: sneerer n. sneeringly adv. Etymology: 16th c.: orig. unkn.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sneer Sneer, n. 1. The act of sneering. 2. A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt. ''Who can refute a sneer?'' --Raley.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sneer Sneer, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sneering.] [OE. sneren, Dan. sn?rre to snarl or grin (like a dog); cf. Prov. E. sneer to grin, sner to snort, snert to sneer at. See Snore, v. i.] 1. To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression. 2. To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively. I could be content to be a little sneared at. --Pope. 3. To show mirth awkwardly. [R.] --Tatler. Syn: To scoff; gibe; jeer. Usage: Sneer, Scoff, Jeer. The verb to sneer implies to cast contempt indirectly or by covert expressions. To jeer is stronger, and denotes the use of several sarcastic reflections. To scoff is stronger still, implying the use of insolent mockery and derision. And sneers as learnedly as they, Like females o'er their morning tea. --Swift. Midas, exposed to all their jeers, Had lost his art, and kept his ears. --Swift. The fop, with learning at defiance, Scoffs at the pedant and science. --Gay.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sneer Sneer, v. t. 1. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person. --Congreve. ``A ship of fools,'' he sneered. --Tennyson. 2. To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers. Nor sneered nor bribed from virtue into shame. --Savage.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(sneers, sneering, sneered) If you sneer at someone or something, you express your contempt for them by the expression on your face or by what you say. There is too great a readiness to sneer at anything the Opposition does... 'Hypocrite,' he sneered... VERB: V at n, V with quote • Sneer is also a noun. Canete's mouth twisted in a contemptuous sneer... N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. Scoff, gibe, jeer, flout, mock, fleer, rail, turn up the nose. II. n. Scoff, jeer, gibe, fling.

Moby Thesaurus

barrack, be above, be contemptuous of, care nothing for, chaff, contemn, contempt, cut, cut at, cut direct, deride, derision, despise, dig at, disdain, disparage, disprize, disregard, dump on, feel contempt for, feel superior to, fleer, flout, gibe, gird, grin, hold beneath one, hold cheap, hold in contempt, humiliation, insult, jab, jab at, jape, jeer, jeer at, jeering, jest, knock, laugh at, leer, look down upon, misprize, mock, mockery, pooh, pooh-pooh, put down, quip, rail at, rally, rank low, rank out, rebuff, repulse, revile, ridicule, sardonic grin, scoff, scorn, scornful laugh, scout, set at naught, slam, slap at, slight, smile, smirk, sneer at, sneering, sneeze at, snicker, sniff, sniff at, snigger, snort, snort at, snub, spurn, spurning, swipe, taunt, the cold shoulder, the go-by, think nothing of, twit, underrate