sneer

Related to sneer: Ozymandias

sneer at (someone or something)

1. Literally, contort one's face into a disdainful, scornful, or condescending expression because of and directed at someone or something. Sarah just sneered at me when I invited her to my party. The king sneered at the artist's portrait, claiming it looked nothing like him.
2. By extension, to regard someone or something with haughty disdain, scorn, condescension, etc. I feel like the rest of the world is sneering at us because of our outdated, backwards laws. I used to sneer at the idea of working in a cubicle for eight hours a day, but once I had kids and needed steady income, it stopped sounding so unappealing.
See also: sneer
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sneer at someone or something

to make a haughty or deprecating face at someone or something; to show one's contempt for someone or something. I asked her politely to give me some more room, and she just sneered at me. Jamie sneered at the report that Ken had submitted.
See also: sneer
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • sneer at
  • sneer at (someone or something)
  • smirk
  • smirk at
  • smirk at (someone or something)
  • scowl
  • scowl at
  • scowl at (someone or something)
  • stick (one's) nose (up) in the air
  • think ill of (someone or something)
References in periodicals archive
Unlike atheists, Christians are taught not to sneer and condemn.
Atheist 'bigotry' LETTERS
None of this would be surprising but for our inability to do much more than sneer when the word "politician" is tossed into a sentence.
The politics of sneering
The Republican presidential hopeful shows off a self-satisfied smirk, a jowly grin and a jeering sneer while addressing voters in Dallas.
Facing up to Trump
Maybe it was Jagger's sneer, Townsend smashing up his guitar or simply H from Steps.
Caring side of rock 'n' roll
Backstage, after picking up his award last night, he said: "We've become a sneer culture."
Swipe at reality TV as stars shine
A full up-and-down rebuff of my outfit, followed by a sneer and then a command to make the rest of the table sneer at me.
Remember to be gracious unless you want an identical dressing down
Don't sneer. If I were contemplating a loft or other extension I would find this site very reassuring.
Today we collect ads
Yes.All open vowel sounds should be drawn out as long as possible and with a perceptible sneer. Therefore ``Cardiff'' becomes something like ``Keee-airdiff''.
WALES IN A WEEK ... Cardiff
Add an extra scoop of metal camp topped with a cam era-ready sneer, and you're ready for dinner with Rye.
The rye coalition
For if these are crisis pictures, the crisis seems to be Golub's sudden inability to repress the fact that his painterly practice would come to be based on photography, on the types of momentary images--a wanton pucker here, an involuntary sneer there--that one can seize from the media and turn to other uses.
"LEON GOLUB: PAINTINGS, 1950-2000"
This got a reaction: a sneer that reeked of condescension.
The Body of Christ, given for whom?
We know she and her type sneer at our England flags and inflatable reindeer and package holidays.
We are to blame for the Thornberries in our side
He even stands by his bowl with a sneer. I tried sneering back but it doesn't work.
This cat always gets the cream
To sneer at people who hold these views because they are allegedly members of something called the "chattering classes" (philistine-speak for people who take an informed interest in current affairs), and may or may not live in Selly Oak or Kings Heath and go to dinner parties, is gratuitously insulting and, frankly, childish.
LETTERS & OPINION: Why sneer at people with informed interest?
Poor Bob was born with one eye missing and a defect which meant his face was squashed into a permanent sneer.
THE CAT.. THAT WINKS ..IT'S ANNE!