n.
- A scornful facial expression characterized by a slight raising of one corner of the upper lip.
- A contemptuous facial expression, sound, or statement.
v., sneered, sneer·ing, sneers. v.tr.
To utter with a sneer or in a sneering manner.
v.intr.
- To assume a scornful, contemptuous, or derisive facial expression.
- To speak in a scornful, contemptuous, or derisive manner.
[From Middle English sneren, to mock, alteration of Old English fnǣran, to breathe heavily.]
sneerer sneer'er n.sneerful sneer'ful or sneer'y adj.
sneeringly sneer'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
