Crossword clues for sneering
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sneer \Sneer\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sneered; p. pr. & vb. n. Sneering.] [OE. sneren, Dan. sn?rre to snarl or grin (like a dog); cf. Prov. E. sneer to grin, sner to snort, snert to sneer at. See Snore, v. i.]
To show contempt by turning up the nose, or by a particular facial expression.
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To inssinuate contempt by a covert expression; to speak derisively.
I could be content to be a little sneared at.
--Pope. -
To show mirth awkwardly. [R.]
--Tatler.Syn: To scoff; gibe; jeer.
Usage: Sneer, Scoff, Jeer. The verb to sneer implies to cast contempt indirectly or by covert expressions. To jeer is stronger, and denotes the use of several sarcastic reflections. To scoff is stronger still, implying the use of insolent mockery and derision.
And sneers as learnedly as they, Like females o'er their morning tea.
--Swift.Midas, exposed to all their jeers, Had lost his art, and kept his ears.
--Swift.The fop, with learning at defiance, Scoffs at the pedant and science.
--Gay.
Wiktionary
n. The act of one who sneers. vb. (present participle of sneer English)
WordNet
adj. expressive of contempt; "curled his lip in a supercilious smile"; "spoke in a sneering jeering manner"; "makes many a sharp comparison but never a mean or snide one" [syn: supercilious, snide]
Usage examples of "sneering".
Beedie could think of was that phlegmy chuckle of old Slysaw Bander, the sneering eyes of Byle Bander, the two of them like as root hairs.
Mijnheer Beek, as usual, took exception to everything, snapping away at Christina in his beautiful Dutch and sneering at her efforts to answer him in the same language.
Therese, seeing that he was posing as master of the field, and that his manners disgusted me, began to snub him, much to his displeasure, and after sneering at the poorness of the dishes, and praising the wine which he had supplied, he went out leaving us to finish our dessert by ourselves.
Hearing these words, he came up to me, sneering, called me a coward, and gave me a smack on the face which almost stunned me.
The men at Ninar Foan had been sneering about the palace fliers of the Royal Guard, but if that performance was typical, then it was the locals who had much to learn.
His sneering glance included Taverik, whose yellow hair and wide cheekbones proclaimed him Pakajan, and the Copper Guild man, with his light red hair and freckled face.
He had an unpleasant sneering manner, joked in bad taste, was stupid, and a devotee, or rather a fanatic.
Wherever he went, Kesk liked to stride arrogantly, his head bare and sneering tanarukk face on display, his battle-axe in his hand, and several of his henchmen swaggering along behind him.
Why was that sneering scoundrel, Magg, allowed to escape from the Castle of Llyr?
An all-too-familiar sneering voice halted her in mid-stride and mid-thought as she reached the door of her lodgings and a burly man in a shiny black frock coat and greasy moleskin waistcoat stepped out of the shadowy hall to stand upon the step.
Sneering at the rows of ceramics and jade carvings, he wondered why the norteamericanos could curse the graverobbers of the past when they were so efficient at the same thing.
The noble Vulcan had turned himself into a sneering Romulan, complete with the padded shoulders, sashes, regalia, and arrogance of someone very exalted in the Star Empire.
In his mind he was seeing Burra, sneering his scorn at a man who let a woman rule him.
Then to have a mealy-mouthed Neut give such sneering versions of the good old stories.
The changeling took in the destruction, glancing to the body of Avenall, and sneering at sight of the Red Lady, yet pinned to the wall.