Scowl vs Sneer - What's the difference?
scowl | sneer |
The wrinkling of the brows or face in frowning; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown.
Hence, gloom; dark or threatening aspect.
To wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry.
* Spenser
(by extension) To look gloomy, dark, or threatening; to lower.
* Thomson
To look at or repel with a scowl or a frown.
To express by a scowl.
To raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn
To utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.
A facial expression where one slightly raises one corner of the upper lip, generally indicating scorn.
A display of contempt; scorn.
* {{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
, chapter=8
In intransitive terms the difference between scowl and sneer
is that scowl is to look at or repel with a scowl or a frown while sneer is to raise a corner of the upper lip slightly, especially in scorn.In transitive terms the difference between scowl and sneer
is that scowl is to express by a scowl while sneer is to utter with a grimace or contemptuous expression; to say sneeringly.scowl
English
Noun
(en noun)Derived terms
* (l), (l)Verb
(en verb)- She scowled and frowned with froward countenance.
- The scowling heavens.
- to scowl a rival into submission
- to scowl defiance
Anagrams
*sneer
English
Verb
(en verb)- to sneer fulsome lies at a person
Noun
(en noun)citation, passage=It was a casual sneer , obviously one of a long line. There was hatred behind it, but of a quiet, chronic type, nothing new or unduly virulent, and he was taken aback by the flicker of amazed incredulity that passed over the younger man's ravaged face.}}