sneer

/ˈsnir/

probably akin to Middle High German snerren to chatter, gossip

verb

  1. to smile or laugh with facial contortions that express scorn or contempt

  2. to speak or write in a scornfully jeering manner

  3. to utter with a sneer

scoff jeer gibe fleer sneer flout mean to show one's contempt in derision or mockery. scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision. jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

noun

  1. the act of sneering; also : a sneering expression or remark