What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
sneer
Example
He sneered at her suggestion, making it clear he thought it was ridiculous. [sneered: verb]
Example
She spoke with a sneer in her voice, making it clear she didn't believe him. [sneer: noun]
ridicule
Example
The comedian's jokes were filled with ridicule towards politicians and celebrities. [ridicule: noun]
Example
She felt embarrassed and hurt when her classmates began to ridicule her for her accent. [ridiculed: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ridicule is more commonly used than sneer in everyday language. Ridicule is often used in situations where someone is being made fun of or humiliated, while sneer is less common and is often used to show subtle disapproval or contempt.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between sneer and ridicule?
Both sneer and ridicule are informal words and are not appropriate for formal situations. However, ridicule is generally more aggressive and can be seen as more inappropriate in certain contexts.
