Sneered
/snɪərd/
verbB2past tense
Definition
To sneer is to make a face or say something that shows you think someone or something is silly, bad, or not important. It often includes a small, mean smile or a sharp tone of voice that shows you do not respect the other person or idea.
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See It in Action
To show disrespect or dislike by facial expression or voice
- •She sneered at the idea that she could fail the test.
- •He sneered when he heard the bad news about his rival.
- •The teacher sneered at the student's careless mistake.
To speak in a way that shows you think someone is silly or not good
- •"That's a stupid plan," he sneered loudly.
- •They sneered at the new rules as if they were useless.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'sneered' like 'smiled,' but the smile is not friendly—it is mean or mocking
- ✓Picture someone pulling one side of their mouth up and looking down at another person with dislike
- ✓It's the feeling when someone laughs at you or your idea in a way that hurts your feelings
- ✓Sounds like 'sneer' → imagine a snake making a quiet, sharp hiss while looking angry or mean
- ✓In stories or movies, a villain often sneers to show they think they are better than the hero
- ✓NOT like 'smile' (friendly and kind), sneer is a smile with a bad meaning behind it
- ✓NOT like 'laugh' (can be happy or funny), sneer is often quiet and full of dislike
- ✓NOT like 'compliment' (praise), sneer shows disrespect or scorn
Try Other Words
- •Mocked: to make fun of someone in a mean way (Use when the action is more about words or jokes)
- •Scorned: to show strong dislike or disrespect (Use when the feeling is stronger and more serious)
- •Disdained: to look down on someone or something as unimportant (Use in formal or serious contexts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; root word 'sneer')
- •Etymology: From Old English 'snǣran,' meaning to smile or laugh scornfully
- •Historical development: Used since the 1500s to describe a facial expression showing contempt or dislike
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe a mean or disrespectful look or tone of voice
Reflect & Connect
•Why do people sneer when they feel superior or angry? How does this affect communication?
•Can sneering ever be helpful or justifiable, or is it always negative? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.He sneered because he wanted to ___ the other person's idea as silly.
2.When she sneered, it showed she felt ___ than everyone else in the room.
3.Unlike a friendly smile, sneered faces often make others feel ___ or hurt.
4.People who sneer usually ___ their dislike without saying it directly.
5.The villain sneered ___ at the hero before starting the fight.
6.She sneered ___ when she heard the bad news about her competitor.
7.When someone sneers, we can often ___ that they do not respect the person they look at.