sneer

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As to wit, the sneer is the cloak of clumsiness

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Definitions (22)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (5)

  1. noun A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip.
  2. noun A contemptuous facial expression, sound, or statement.
  3. transitive verb To utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (10)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (3)

Toggle WordNet definitions WordNet (4)

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Examples (50)

  • The fact that this sneer is the only reference to the Newington Playhouse found in contemporary literature is a commentary on the low esteem in which the building was held by the Elizabethans, and its relative unimportance for the history of the drama The last notice is in Howe's continuation of Stow's Annals (1631). —  Shakespearean Playhouses A History of English Theatres from the Beginnings to the Restoration
  • Say, Locasto, looks like you'll have to lose it Locasto had been favouring me with a particularly sardonic look, but at these words the sneer was wiped out, and horror crowded into his eyes Lose my hand--don't tell me that! —  The Trail of '98 A Northland Romance
  • Why, for all we know"--his voice dropped to a taunting sneer--"he might be a spy for The Terror himself--probably measurin' the strength of our outfit The other men seemed to hesitate. —  Kid Wolf of Texas
  • Reason came quickly and drove it away with a sneer, and the horror and the darkness closed round again If I might only die, if I might only die But the little bird sang on CHAPTER LI Quite hopeless Joseph Fleming repeated the words incredulously Yes," said Lady Engleton, "it is the terrible truth The Professor had been growing worse, and at length, his state became so alarming that he decided to return to England. —  The Daughters of Danaus
  • No This was said with a rough sneer, and the Black Colonel made the sting sharper by adding, "You'll be thinking it an assured capture, with the ends of the Pass sealed by red-coats and its sides so steep that only those tough sheep over there can climb them Truth," said I quickly, gaining my tongue, "will force you to eat those words, for I knew nothing of all this. —  The Black Colonel
 

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This word has been looked up 173 times.

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Roget's II Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Allen's Allen's Synonyms and Antonyms

Suggestions Wordniks Suggest

Used in the same context Used in the Same Context

chuckle ·  grin ·  smirk ·  grimace ·  sarcasm ·  mockery ·  taunt ·  snarl ·  derision ·  leer ·  scorn ·  jeer

Used in the same contextWord Family

sneer:   sneered ·  sneering ·  sneers
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus, Third Edition by the Editors of the American Heritage® Dictionary. Copyright © 2003, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. From Middle English sneren, to mock, alteration of Old English fnǣran, to breathe heavily; see pneu- in Indo-European roots.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Formerly also snear; from Middle English sneren, from Danish snærre, grin like a dog; akin to snar, snarl.
  2. from sneer, v.
 

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/snir/
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