Sneer
[snɪə] or [snɪr]
Definition
(noun.) a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls.
(noun.) a contemptuous or scornful remark.
(verb.) smile contemptuously; 'she sneered at her little sister's efforts to play the song on the piano'.
(verb.) express through a scornful smile; 'she sneered her contempt'.
Edited by Benson--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.
(v. i.) To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively.
(v. i.) To show mirth awkwardly.
(v. t.) To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to utter with a sneer; to say sneeringly; as, to sneer fulsome lies at a person.
(v. t.) To treat with sneers; to affect or move by sneers.
(n.) The act of sneering.
(n.) A smile, grin, or contortion of the face, indicative of contempt; an indirect expression or insinuation of contempt.
Editor: Warren
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. Scoff, gibe, jeer, flout, mock, fleer, rail, turn up the nose.
n. Scoff, jeer, jibe, fling.
Typist: Toni
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Scoff, gibe, jeer, taunt, disparagement, contempt, scorn, superciliousness,disdain
ANT:Compliment, eulogy, commendation, deference
Edited by Della
Definition
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.
Inputed by Jon
Examples
- It was voted low to sneer at Dobbin about this accident of birth. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- You sneer, perhaps; and you take a lofty air upon yourself perhaps! Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- He might be ever so depressed or sulky, and she did not mark his demeanour, or only treated it with a sneer. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- The reason, said my friend (with a sneer), is admirable. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- I thought you would, Rawdon said with a sneer. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- You hear nothing, you don't,' retorted Sikes with a fierce sneer. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Laugh and sneer at that angel. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- I blush to record it--she sneered at him to his face. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- St. Pierre sneered again, in her cold snaky manner. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Mrs. Crawley sneered at her. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- She sneered slightly in saying this: nervous excitability was not much to Madame's taste. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- No, he don't,' sneered Mr. Sikes. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Stand to your guns, Laura, sneered Sir Percival, who had been listening in his place at the door. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Of course—the artistic sense, sneered Caliphronas in such a disagreeable way, that Maurice again looked at him in astonishment. Fergus Hume. The Island of Fantasy.
- Another woman was laughing or sneering at her expense, and he not angry. William Makepeace Thackeray. Vanity Fair.
- It was terrible to think of again encountering those bearded, sneering simpletons; yet the ground must be retraced, and the steps sought out. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- Armitage and Ramsden smoking, Malone swaggering, your uncle sneering, Mr. Sykes sipping a cordial, and Moore himself in his cold man-of-business vein! Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- Scornful, sneering creature! Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- A half-paralysed white sneering fellow--rather handsome head, but eyes with a lot of lashes. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- And all this with such a sneering, leering, insolent face that I would have knocked him down twenty times over if he had been a man of my own age. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- As she delivered it, Legree looked in her eyes with a sneering yet inquiring glance. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- We live to-day largely in the age of alchemists, for all our sneers at their memory. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- If I am not made safe from sneers in a week or two I will tell him myself. Thomas Hardy. The Return of the Native.
- I should like to know,' sneers Podsnap, 'whether your noble relation would be of your opinion. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- You don't find that she sneers at you, do you? Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
Checked by Alyson