jeer

¹ American  

[jeer] / dʒɪər /

verb (used without object)

1. to speak or shout derisively; scoff or gibe rudely.

   Don't jeer unless you can do better.

   Synonyms:

   jest, sneer

---

verb (used with object)

1. to shout derisively at; taunt.

   Synonyms:

   fleer, flout, ridicule, deride

2. to treat with scoffs or derision; mock.

   Synonyms:

   fleer, flout, ridicule, deride

3. to drive away by derisive shouts (followed by out of, off, etc.).

   They jeered the speaker off the stage.

noun

1. a jeering utterance; derisive or rude gibe.

jeer ² American  

[jeer] / dʒɪər /

noun

Nautical.

1. any of various combinations of tackles for raising or lowering heavy yards.

---

jeer British  

/ dʒɪə /

verb

1. (often foll by at) to laugh or scoff (at a person or thing); mock

---

noun

1. a remark or cry of derision; gibe; taunt

Related Words

See scoff ¹.

Other Word Forms

• jeerer noun
• jeering adjective
• jeeringly adverb
• unjeered adjective
• unjeering adjective

Etymology

Origin of jeer¹

1555–65; origin uncertain; compare Old English cēir clamor, akin to cēgan to call out

Origin of jeer²

First recorded in 1485–95; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

That led to a hold-up of several minutes before the game resumed, with Vinicius then being jeered by the home fans.

From Barron's

“What are you looking at?” one of the guys jeered.

From Literature

Both beneficiary and victim of white America’s longstanding insistence on having one media-anointed leader serve as the spokesman for tens of millions of Black citizens, he drew adulation and jeers but consistently held the spotlight.

From Los Angeles Times

Since then, France has joined the chorus of jeers following its gold medal in ice dance, where a French team narrowly edged out Madison Chock and Evan Bates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Though he heard cheers, he also heard boos and jeers.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hoot
• quip
• ridicule
• scoff
• sneer
• snipe
• taunt