Snubbing
/ˈsnʌbɪŋ/noun
Treating someone with deliberate contempt or refusing to acknowledge them.
Did you know?The social meaning of snub likely grew from the older sense of “to check, curb, or clip” something short, showing how English turns physical restraint into emotional dismissal.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Middle English roots
Germanic
snubben / snubbe (reconstructed influence)
“To strike, check, or cut short; a rough, abrupt action”
16th Century
English
snubbe
“To rebuke sharply or check someone abruptly”
17th Century
English
snub
“A sharp reprimand or slight; to treat with disdain”
18th-19th Century
English
snub
“To ignore or coldly rebuff someone in a social setting”
Modern English
English
snubbing
“The act of deliberately ignoring or rebuffing someone”