as in to laugh
to express scornful amusement by means of facial contortions
She sneered at me in disgust.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sneer
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Both were sneered at by middle-class reviewers and adored by the public.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sneer
Verb
But the moralistic sneer didn’t take long to enter the postgame analysis.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
The male characters are, typically, petulant narcissists with perpetual sneers who insult and cajole their female love interests into almost invariably unhealthy relationships.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2025
Noun
Echo Valley, a thriller directed by Beast’s Michael Pearce, eventually introduces a more conventional villain in Jackie, a sneering drug dealer played by Domhnall Gleeson, but there’s only life in it when Claire is serving as a complicated secondary antagonist.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Both were sneered at by middle-class reviewers and adored by the public.
—Graham Robb, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sneer
Verb
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Hayward then screamed and laughed after some water went into her mouth.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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In addition, footage from a 1999 Victoria’s Secret fashion event in New York shows Trump and Epstein laughing and chatting together ahead of the runway event.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Noun
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There was an expression on his face, something between a smile and a smirk.—
Mona Awad,
New Yorker,
20 July 2025
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Liam McNeeley’s eyes widened, preceding a devilish smirk.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
13 July 2025
Verb
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From left: Charles Kim Haskell smiles in hospital; and is pushed in a wheelchair.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement Cole Palmer looked perplexed and frustrated as Donald Trump stood in front of him, smiling and clapping, even as FIFA President Gianni Infantino could be seen unsuccessfully urging the U.S. President to move aside so as not to obstruct the team’s celebrations.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
14 July 2025
Noun
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The carnage leads to a sigh of an epilogue that seems, without giving anything away, like a curious letdown, a cruel little snicker from Aster that doesn’t entirely satisfy.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
15 July 2025
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League sources stifle their snickers in public while privately marveling at the owner’s ceaseless stupidity. 3.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Each time an audience member so much as sniggers or sneezes, money is docked from a prize pot of £250,000 ($330,000), the slightest noise costing them up to £10,000 ($13,000) each time.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
2 May 2025
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The tribal leader sniggers; a trade with foreign infidels is inconceivable.—
Bing West,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Sep. 2011
Noun
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And while both teams seem to be better off for the move, with each leading their respective divisions, Yankee fans are likely going to welcome Soto's return with boos and jeers.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 May 2025
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Seemingly every time Messi touched the ball, the crowd reacted in unison, more so with cheers than jeers.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sneer. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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