ENGLISH
REFERENCE

snub

v.
C1 Advanced US //ˈsnəb// UK //snˈʌb// snub Archaic

v. to ignore someone on purpose or treat them as if they are not important. You might do this because you are angry with them or think you are better than they are.

v. to treat with disdain or contempt by ignoring or rebuffing. Transitive — requires a direct object, which is typically a person, group, or formal invitation.


SIMPLE

She felt hurt when her old friends began to snub her.

CONTEXTUAL

The director chose to snub the awards ceremony after his film was overlooked for the top prize.

COMPLEX

In the rigid social hierarchy of the nineteenth century, a public snub could effectively end a person's career or standing within the community.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English snubben (also snibben), from Old Norse snubba (“to curse, chide, snub, scold, reprove”), which, like the source of English snip, is probably imitative in some manner. Cognate with Danish snibbe, dialectal Swedish snebba.

Etymology 2

From Middle English snubben, snobben (“to sob”). Compare Dutch snuiven (“to snort, to pant”), German schnauben, German dialect schnupfen (“to sob”), and English snuff (transitive verb).

Usage

The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

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