sneer

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To smile or speak in a way that shows scorn or contempt.

   He sneered at my attempt to fix the car myself.

2. 2
   noun

   A scornful smile or expression that shows contempt.

   She looked at the cheap gift with a sneer.

From Middle English sneren (“to mock, scoff at”), from Old English fnǣran (“to snort”), from Proto-West Germanic *fnāʀijan, from Proto-Germanic *fnesaną (“to pant, gasp”). Akin to North Frisian sneere (“to scorn”), Middle High German snerren (“to chatter; gossip”), Danish snerre (“to growl, snarl”).

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