snubbed: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, neutral, and informal. Most common in narrative contexts (news, stories) describing social interactions.
Quick answer
What does “snubbed” mean?
To treat with deliberate contempt or disregard.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To treat with deliberate contempt or disregard; to ignore, slight, or rebuff someone, typically in a social context.
In mechanics/engineering, a 'snubber' is a device that limits or dampens motion or shock, but this is unrelated to the social verb form. The past tense 'snubbed' primarily conveys the experience of being rejected or dismissed, often publicly or pointedly.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. The action may be perceived as slightly more severe or noteworthy in British contexts due to nuances of social hierarchy.
Connotations
Both carry strong connotations of social insult. In UK English, it might be associated more with class-consciousness. In US English, it's strongly linked to celebrity/political culture.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK media discussing royalty, diplomacy, or politics. Common in US media for celebrity and awards show coverage.
Grammar
How to Use “snubbed” in a Sentence
[Someone] snubbed [someone else].[Someone] was/got snubbed by [someone else].to snub [someone] [prepositional phrase: at an event, in public].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “snubbed” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The cabinet minister was alleged to have snubbed the ambassador by arriving late to the dinner.
- He felt terribly snubbed when his neighbours didn't invite him to the street party.
American English
- The actress snubbed the reporter's question and walked straight to her car.
- Many fans believe the committee snubbed their favorite director for the award.
adverb
British English
- N/A. 'Snubbingly' is obsolete and not used.
American English
- N/A. 'Snubbingly' is obsolete and not used.
adjective
British English
- He gave a snub reply before turning away. (Note: 'snub' as adjective, not 'snubbed')
- The snub-nosed revolver was a compact design.
American English
- Her snub remark made the atmosphere tense. ('snub' as adjective)
- The fighter jet had a characteristically snub nose.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in discussing office politics, e.g., 'The VP snubbed the junior manager's proposal in the meeting.'
Academic
Rare in hard sciences. Appears in social sciences, history, literature analyzing character interactions.
Everyday
Used when discussing social events, friendships gone sour, or perceived disrespect. 'She snubbed me at the supermarket.'
Technical
Not applicable for the social verb. See 'snubber' in engineering.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “snubbed”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “snubbed”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “snubbed”
- Using it for general ignoring without the element of deliberate insult. (e.g., 'I snubbed the email' is wrong).
- Confusing 'snubbed' (verb, past) with 'snub-nosed' (adjective).
- Using in a physical sense (e.g., 'The car snubbed the wall').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Ignored' is neutral; you may ignore something by accident. 'Snubbed' is always deliberate, personal, and conveys contempt or a desire to insult.
Almost exclusively a person or an action tied to a person (like an invitation, a handshake, a greeting). You don't snub a thing. (e.g., 'snub an offer' is acceptable because the offer is from a person).
It is used across registers. It's common in formal journalism (political snubs) and informal conversation (social snubs).
The noun is 'a snub'. Example: 'His failure to greet her was a clear snub.'
To treat with deliberate contempt or disregard.
Snubbed: in British English it is pronounced /snʌbd/, and in American English it is pronounced /snʌbd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To give someone the cold shoulder”
- “To cut someone dead (UK)”
- “To be left out in the cold”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SNUB-nosed dog turning its short, turned-up nose AWAY from you in disdain. SNUBbed = turned up nose.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL REJECTION IS PHYSICAL REPULSION / AVOIDANCE.
Practice
Quiz
In which scenario is the word 'snubbed' used MOST appropriately?