sneer
pronunciation
How to pronounce sneer in British English:
UK [snɪə(r)]
How to pronounce sneer in American English:
US [snɪr]
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- Noun:
- a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls
- a contemptuous or scornful remark
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- Verb:
- express through a scornful smile
- smile contemptuously
Word Origin
- sneer (v.)
- 1550s, "to snort" (of horses), perhaps from North Frisian sneere "to scorn," related to Old English fnæran "to snort, gnash one's teeth," of imitative origin (compare Danish snærre "to grin like a dog," Middle Dutch, Middle High German snarren "to rattle"). Meaning "to smile contemptuously" is from 1670s; sense of "to curl the upper lip in scorn" is attested from 1775. Related: Sneered; sneering. Sneer word is in E. Digby Baltzell (1987).
- sneer (n.)
- 1707, from sneer (v.).
Example
- 1. Autocrats need not sneer at the troubles of western democracies .
- 2. The phrase " til death do us part " is something I sneer at .
- 3. The technology industry likes to sneer at microsoft as a follower .
- 4. Europeans may sneer at chinese tourists who pursue beethoven , bordeaux and hugo boss with the same undiscriminating avidity .
- 5. So rather than sneer at europe 's impotence , the world should be asking whether europe can rediscover its vigour-and if so how .