# sneer

> English word · Verb · IPA /snɪə̯/ · frequency rank #41,890

## Definitions
1. To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn.
2. To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **Snr** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-snr)
- **SNES** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-snes)
- **super** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-super)
- **speed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-speed)
- **sweet** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-sweet)
- **steel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-steel)
- **swear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-swear)
- **steep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-steep)
- **sweep** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-sweep)
- **sober** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-sober)
- **steer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-steer)
- **spear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-spear)
- **steed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-steed)
- **snell** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-snell)
- **steen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-steen)
- **speer** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-speer)
- **sniper** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-sniper)
- **Snyder** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-snyder)
- **sneeze** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-sneeze)
- **steers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/sneer-vs-steers)

## Common misspellings (7)
`nseer`, `sener`, `sneerr`, `sner`, `snere`, `snneer`, `ssneer`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sneer