sneer

verb
UK: /snɪər/
US: /snɪr/

  1. To smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner.

    1. He sneered at my shoes.
    2. The bully would sneer whenever anyone mentioned his small stature and poor grades.

  2. To express disdain or contempt through facial expressions or tone of voice.

    1. She sneered at the suggestion.
    2. The critic often sneered at the actor's attempts to break into serious drama.

Synonyms

scoff mock scorn gibe
sneer noun

  1. A contemptuous or mocking smile, remark, or tone.

    1. His sneer was unkind.
    2. The politician responded to the question with a sneer that indicated his utter contempt.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "sneer" in English means: To smile or speak in a contemptuous or mocking manner., To express disdain or contempt through facial expressions or tone of voice..

The phonetic transcription of "sneer" is /snɪər/ in British English and /snɪr/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "sneer": scoff, mock, scorn, gibe.

Example usage of "sneer": "He sneered at my shoes.". More examples on the page.