sneeringly

Sneeringly is an adverb describing the manner of an action performed with a sneer—a contemptuous, scornful expression or demeanor. It modifies verbs to indicate that someone expresses disdain through facial gesture, tone, or rhetoric. The form is built from the adjective sneering (derived from the verb sneer) plus the suffix -ly.

Usage and nuance: Sneeringly commonly appears in literary criticism, journalism, and formal writing to describe a character’s attitude or a speaker’s tone. It signals overt contempt or condescension that is visibly or audibly conveyed, rather than a purely intellectual or ironic remark. It can accompany actions, statements, or reactions, such as a look, comment, or greeting.

Examples: She looked at him sneeringly. The critic dismissed the proposal sneeringly. In both cases the adverb conveys not just disagreement but a scornful attitude.

Relation to other terms: Sneeringly shares meaning with derisively and mockingly but emphasizes the facial expression and scornful delivery as part of the attitude. It is generally considered negative and is more likely to appear in descriptive or evaluative writing rather than everyday conversation.

Pronunciation and tone: Pronounced roughly as /ˈsniːr.ɪŋ.li/ in standard English. Its use tends to be more literary or journalistic than colloquial, and it often carries a strong negative valence due to the implied contempt.