MEANING
To speak or look in a way that conveys contempt.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- sneer at an idea
- sneer in contempt
On the page
He sneered at the suggestion of asking permission.
Nearby words
Word forms
- Base
- sneer
- Past tense
- sneered
- Past participle
- sneered
- Present participle
- sneering
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- sneer
- Present continuous
- am/is/are sneering
- Present perfect
- have/has sneered
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been sneering
- Past
- sneered
- Past continuous
- was/were sneering
- Past perfect
- had sneered
- Past perfect continuous
- had been sneering
- Future
- will sneer
- Future continuous
- will be sneering
- Future perfect
- will have sneered
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been sneering
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: sneer; sneers; sneered; sneered; sneering Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Writing functions: description, character, dialogue. Commonness: moderately common. Third-person singular: sneers.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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