Definitions for sneer
snɪərsneer

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 3 votes

1. sneer, leernoun

   a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls

2. sneerverb

   a contemptuous or scornful remark

3. sneerverb

   express through a scornful smile

   "she sneered her contempt"

4. sneerverb

   smile contemptuously

   "she sneered at her little sister's efforts to play the song on the piano"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.8 / 4 votes

1. sneernoun

   A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.

2. sneernoun

   A display of contempt; scorn

3. sneerverb

   To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sneernoun

   Etymology: from the verb.

   1. A look of contemptuous ridicule.

   Did not the sneer of more impartial men
   At sense and virtue, balance all agen. Alexander Pope.

   2. An expression of ludicrous scorn.

   Socrates or Cæsar might have a fool’s coat clapt upon them, and in this disguise neither the wisdom of the one nor the majesty of the other could secure them from a sneer. Isaac Watts.

2. To Sneerverb

   Etymology: This word is apparently of the same family with snore and snort.

   1. To show contempt by looks: naso suspendere adunco.2. To insinuate contempt by covert expressions.

   The wolf was by, and the fox in a sneering way advised him not to irritate a prince against his subjects. Roger L'Estrange.

   I could be content to be a little sneered at in a line, for the sake of the pleasure I should have in reading the rest. Alexander Pope.

   If there has been any thing expressed with too much severity, it will fall upon those sneering or daring writers of the age against religion, who have left reason and decency. Isaac Watts.

   3. To utter with grimace.

   I have not been sneering fulsome lies, and nauseous flattery, at a little tawdry whore. William Congreve.

   4. To show aukward mirth.

   I had no power over one muscle in their faces, though they sneered at every word spoken by each other. Tatler.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sneer

   A sneer is a scornful or contemptuous facial expression, smile, or remark that usually involves the upper lip being curled in an unpleasant or mocking way. It can also refer to an unkind or derogatory comment or action meant to belittle or mock someone or something.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Sneerverb

   to show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression

2. Sneerverb

   to inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively

3. Sneerverb

   to show mirth awkwardly

4. Sneerverb

   to utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person

5. Sneerverb

   to treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers

6. Sneernoun

   the act of sneering

7. Sneernoun

   a smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sneer

   A sneer is a facial expression of scorn or disgust characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip, known also as curling the lip or turning up the nose. In The Expression of Emotions in Man and Animals, Charles Darwin defined a "sneer" as "the upper lip being retracted in such a manner that the canine tooth on one side of the face alone is shown" Darwin related the sneer to the snarl observed in non-human animals, particularly carnivores, observing that: It is suggested that the sneer is a universal expression of contempt and that Darwin was the first to observe this. Cats may be observed to sneer, though this is probably related to the Flehmen response.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Sneer

   snēr, v.i. to show contempt by the expression of the face, as by turning up the nose: to insinuate contempt.—v.t. to utter sneeringly.—n. an indirect expression of contempt.—n. Sneer′er.—adj. Sneer′ing.—adv. Sneer′ingly. [Scand., Dan. snærre, to grin like a dog; cf. Snarl.]

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. sneer

   To "make all sneer again" is to carry canvas to such an extent as to strain the ropes and spars to the utmost.

Matched Categories

1. • Contempt
   • Express
   • Smile

Anagrams for sneer »

1. ernes

2. Resen

3. renes

How to pronounce sneer?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say sneer in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of sneer in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of sneer in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of sneer in a Sentence

1. Charles Hendrickson Brower:

   A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn it can be stabbed to death by a joke or worried to death by a frown on the right person's brow.

2. Joe Keenan:

   There are, however, people in this world who seldom pick up a newspaper, people who, when watching television, sneer in displeasure and change channels at the first glimpse of an anchorperson. While such willfully uninformed citizens are rare, emerging from seclusion only to serve on juries in trials of great national significance, they do exist.

3. Louis Auchincloss:

   Only little boys and old men sneer at love.

4. Johann Kaspar Lavater:

   A sneer is often the sign of heartless malignity.

5. Vachel Lindsay:

   Never be a cynic, even a gentle one. Never help out a sneer, even at the devil.

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