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Sneer   /snɪr/   Listen
noun
Sneer  n.  
1.
The act of sneering.
2.
A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt. "Who can refute a sneer?"



verb
Sneer  v. t.  
1.
To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person. ""A ship of fools," he sneered."
2.
To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers. "Nor sneered nor bribed from virtue into shame."



Sneer  v. i.  (past & past part. sneered; pres. part. sneering)  
1.
To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.
2.
To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively. "I could be content to be a little sneared at."
3.
To show mirth awkwardly. (R.)
Synonyms: To scoff; gibe; jeer. Sneer, Scoff, Jeer. The verb to sneer implies to cast contempt indirectly or by covert expressions. To jeer is stronger, and denotes the use of several sarcastic reflections. To scoff is stronger still, implying the use of insolent mockery and derision. "And sneers as learnedly as they, Like females o'er their morning tea." "Midas, exposed to all their jeers, Had lost his art, and kept his ears." "The fop, with learning at defiance, Scoffs at the pedant and science."






Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48








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"Sneer" Quotes from Famous Books



... austere in age; Calm, but not cold, and cheerful though a sage; Too true to flatter and too kind to sneer, And only just when seemingly severe; So gently blending courtesy and art That wisdom's lips seemed borrowing ...
— The Poetical Works of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Complete • Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

... was president; showing himself at the races, at the theatre, or even at Baroness Dinati's; longing to break the dull monotony of his now ruined life; and, with a sort of bravado, looking society and opinion full in the face, as if to surprise a smile or a sneer at his expense, ...
— Prince Zilah, Complete • Jules Claretie

... had an insolent smile in those prominent eyes of his, and a sneer bared his tobacco-stained teeth. Slamming the door, he came sauntering toward the scoutmaster, who had risen; he halted without speaking, then deliberately, impudently, he stared Mr. Perkins from ...
— The Rich Little Poor Boy • Eleanor Gates

... since that martial Synod met, Britannia sickens, Cintra! at thy name; And folks in office at the mention fret,[bj] And fain would blush, if blush they could, for shame. How will Posterity the deed proclaim! Will not our own and fellow-nations sneer, To view these champions cheated of their fame, By foes in fight o'erthrown, yet victors here, Where Scorn her finger points through ...
— The Works of Lord Byron, Volume 2 • George Gordon Byron

... that in your veins flowed none but the purest of Castilian streams," answered the lieutenant, with a slight sneer in his tone. It was so slight, however, that his captain did not perceive it. "How came that ...
— Ronald Morton, or the Fire Ships - A Story of the Last Naval War • W.H.G. Kingston


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