sneer
Americanverb (used without object)
-
sneers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sneered,
past participle, past
-
sneering
present participle
-
to smile, laugh, or contort the face in a manner that shows scorn or contempt.
They sneered at his pretensions.
-
to speak or write in a manner expressive of derision or scorn.
- Synonyms:
- gibe
verb (used with object)
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sneers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sneered,
past participle, past
-
sneering
present participle
noun
-
a facial expression of scorn or contempt, typically with the upper lip curled
-
a scornful or contemptuous remark or utterance
verb
-
(intr) to assume a facial expression of scorn or contempt
-
to say or utter (something) in a scornful or contemptuous manner
Synonym Usage
See scoff 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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sneerernoun
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subsneernoun
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sneerfuladjective
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sneeringadjective
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sneerlessadjective
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unsneeringadjective
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sneeringlyadverb
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unsneeringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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sneersimple
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sneerssimple
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have sneeredperfect
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has sneeredperfect
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am sneeringprogressive
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are sneeringprogressive
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is sneeringprogressive
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have been sneeringperfect progressive
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has been sneeringperfect progressive
Past
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sneeredsimple
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had sneeredperfect
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was sneeringprogressive
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were sneeringprogressive
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had been sneeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sneer
First recorded in 1545–55; originally, “to snort”; compare Frisian (northern dialect) sneere “scornful remark,” snarl 1
Explanation
If your smile is contorted with contempt or your upper lip curled with distaste and disdain, you're probably sneering. And you should stop, because it isn't nice. Many things can elicit a sneer: a terrible red carpet outfit, a disgusting plate of food, a stupid joke told for the third time. But sneers aren't just meant to show disgust. They're mean-spirited, mocking and often downright snooty. So now that you know the definition of sneer inside and out, resist the temptation to sneer at those who don't!
Vocabulary lists containing sneer
The Lingo of Body Language
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Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?" (1863)
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List 11
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Outside and looking up at it, the pony seems to sneer.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 15, 2026
If we punish risk, overregulate builders, sneer at industry, neglect education, or close the door to people who want to contribute, we will become less exceptional.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
"I think most of our characters were quite warm and quite engaging and we didn't sneer at them or mock them," says Paul.
From BBC ● Jan. 24, 2026
"If many critics sneer and say we can't achieve food self-sufficiency, today we prove that we are food self-sufficient," Prabowo said.
From Barron's ● Jan. 7, 2026
He’s smiling, too, but it’s not his usual sneer.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
With barely a greeting to the rest of the musicians, he starts to sing, challenging their earsplitting guitars with his lacerating sneers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
Franks says she will never regret her time at Cambridge, despite the sneers and the cheeseboard faux pas.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026
As she crawls, screams, scratches and sneers, Lawrence maintains a soulful balance between Grace’s creeping delirium and her ceaseless dedication to her newborn son.
From Salon ● Nov. 7, 2025
The Senate, which generally sneers at the amateurism of House legislation, would have its turn; if the Senate were successful, the two chambers would then have to bridge what could be substantial differences.
From Slate ● May 20, 2025
Jasper Jr. gave me one of his trademark sneers and took off running.
From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen
When I said I had moved up from Fort Lauderdale, my host sneered: “Florida is a swamp.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Rowling sneered at Oates’ concern, while Musk referred to the author as “a bit of an extinctionist.”
From Slate ● Nov. 13, 2025
Many sneered at the comments from the Brighton owner, but with each passing week that bold assessment is looking more realistic with Rangers in turmoil and Celtic yet to hit top gear.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2025
He explicitly sneered at the idea of birth control.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2024
Evan couldn't believe it: She sneered at him.
From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies
He’s sneering, which is bad enough, but now, oh boy, he does the Thing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026
Perhaps more seriously, “Idiocracy” allows the viewer to feel accomplished for doing nothing beyond sneering at their fellow Americans.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
Her answer, delivered as a sneering little aside: “Yeah.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
It bragged about the academic prestige of its schools and reminded its athletes that they were students first, sneering at all those other schools that had the audacity to win at all costs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025
It was classic Zach—the sneering, superior put-down tone that he used on other people, but never on me.
From "Schooled" by Gordon Korman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
