sneer
Americanverb (used without object)
-
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)
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
-
sneerernoun
-
subsneernoun
-
sneerfuladjective
-
sneeringadjective
-
sneerlessadjective
-
unsneeringadjective
-
sneeringlyadverb
-
unsneeringlyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sneersimple
-
sneerssimple
-
have sneeredperfect
-
has sneeredperfect
-
am sneeringprogressive
-
are sneeringprogressive
-
is sneeringprogressive
-
have been sneeringperfect progressive
-
has been sneeringperfect progressive
Past
-
sneeredsimple
-
had sneeredperfect
-
was sneeringprogressive
-
were sneeringprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I A Woman?" (1863)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
List 11
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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
It is hard to tell if Mr. Hockney intended these works to celebrate with, sneer at, or send up the Hollywood milieu in which he found himself.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Many of us were raised to sneer at social influence—instructed to resist peer pressure at all costs—but there’s another term for thinking about all this that’s less off-putting: role modeling.
From Slate ● May 15, 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
He smiles, but it’s more of a sneer.
From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy
“I have no head for trivial things. And you are so very good at them, darling,” he sneers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
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
“I ain’t an angel, you ain’t heaven-sent,” he sneers in “I Had Some Help,” a collaboration with a newly countryfied Post Malone.
From Salon ● May 16, 2025
It is 12 years since Skopje was the setting for one of the more bizarre tales of Welsh football history, one that drew sniggers and sneers, not to mention damning headlines for their under-pressure manager.
From BBC ● Mar. 24, 2025
Gilly had had plenty of practice staring down sneers, but it was hard to imagine that someone like Nonnie had.
From "The Great Gilly Hopkins" by Katherine Paterson
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
Julian Casablancas sneered his way into instant rock stardom nearly a quarter of a century ago as the glamorously disheveled frontman of the Strokes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2024
He explicitly sneered at the idea of birth control.
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 2024
He sneered at the twins and turned coldly to Adam.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
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
The disgust in Osbourne’s sneering vocal is still palpable.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2025
When he was called out for it, Musk sent another tweet sneering, "Toxoplasma gondii is a danger to our democracy," a reference to the debunked myth that cat owners have a mentally destabilizing parasite.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2024
Writing afterwards on X, she said: "The sneering contempt of 'journalists' will never stop me from calling out racism and Islamophobic hate."
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024
On the sweltering afternoon of June 29, at Boston’s Suffolk Downs, the horse found him. he colt was practically sneering at him.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
