English Explanatory Dictionary

sneer

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn.
  2. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.
noun
  1. A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.
  2. A display of contempt; scorn.

Pronunciation

/snɪə̯/ /snɪɚ̯/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-I learned some phrases-sneer.wav

Word forms

sneer sneers sneering sneered

Etymology

From Middle English sneren (“to mock, scoff at”), from Old English fnǣran (“to snort”), from Proto-West Germanic *fnāʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *fnesaną (“to pant, gasp”). Akin to North Frisian sneere (“to scorn”), Middle High German snerren (“to chatter; gossip”), Danish snerre (“to growl, snarl”).

Synonyms

gird jeer jibe laugh at scoff scorn sneer fleer

Antonyms

cheer laugh with

Related words

bah snarl

Derived words

sneerer sneerful sneeringly sneerless sneerocracy sneer quote sneery unsneering
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