Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for disdain

disdain

[ dis-deyn, dih-steyn ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn.

    Synonyms: spurn, contemn

    Antonyms: accept

  2. to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself:

    to disdain replying to an insult.



noun

  1. a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt; scorn.

    Synonyms: haughtiness, arrogance

    Antonyms: admiration

disdain

/ dɪsˈdeɪn /

noun

  1. a feeling or show of superiority and dislike; contempt; scorn


verb

  1. tr; may take an infinitive to refuse or reject with disdain

Discover More

Other Words From

  • self-dis·dain noun
  • undis·daining adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of disdain1

First recorded in 1300–50; (for the verb) Middle English disdainen, from Anglo-French de(s)deigner, equivalent to dis- 1 + deign; noun derivative of the verb

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of disdain1

C13 dedeyne, from Old French desdeign, from desdeigner to reject as unworthy, from Latin dēdignārī; see dis- 1, deign

Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

In a culture that worships celebrities while pretending to disdain them, the Sony emails are catnip for the masses.

It was associated with government heavy-handedness and viewed with disdain.

In the immediate aftermath of the oil spill, apoplectic Southerners cast their disdain towards the North.

Many critics have disdain precisely for this strange messiness of his, this showmanship that dares to create a new order.

His look of disdain at my question lingers as he pronounces laconically: “We kill them.”

He did not disdain to manufacture dainty little dishes for his young mistresses.

The instant lift of Florimond's eyebrows was full of insolent, supercilious disdain.

The tall, slender Spaniard, swarthy and of classic feature, looks about him with suppressed disdain.

He looked at Mandleco with immense disdain, gave a pert tilt of his head and surveyed the room with a grimace of distaste.

The boy's pulses leaped toward these things even while his lips curled in disdain at the shallow decoy.

Advertisement

Word of the Day

firkin

[fur-kin ]

Meaning and examples

Start each day with the Word of the Day in your inbox!

By clicking "Sign Up", you are accepting Dictionary.com Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policies.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


disc wheeldisdainful