View synonyms for scorn

scorn

[ skawrn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

open or unqualified contempt; disdain:
His face and attitude showed the scorn he felt.
Synonyms: contumely
an object of derision or contempt.
a derisive or contemptuous action or speech.
Antonyms: praise

verb (used with object)

to treat or regard with contempt or disdain:
They scorned the old beggar.
Synonyms: detest, despise, contemn, disdain
to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain:
She scorned my help.

verb (used without object)

to mock; jeer.

scorn

/ skɔːn /

noun

open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision
an object of contempt or derision
archaic.
an act or expression signifying contempt

verb

to treat with contempt or derision
tr to reject with contempt

Discover More

Derived Forms

ˈscornfully, adverb
ˈscornfulness, noun
ˈscornful, adjective
ˈscorner, noun

Discover More

Other Words From

scorn·er noun
scorn·ing·ly adverb
out·scorn verb (used with object)
self-scorn noun

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of scorn¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; (noun) Middle English scorn, scarn, from Old French escarn, from Germanic (compare obsolete Dutch schern “mockery, trickery”); (verb) Middle English skarnen, sc(h)ornen, from Old French escharnir, eschernir, ultimately from Germanic

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of scorn¹

C12 schornen, from Old French escharnir, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scerōn to behave rowdily, obsolete Dutch schern mockery

Discover More

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

laugh to scorn, to ridicule; deride:
Many of his sophisticated listeners laughed him to scorn.

Discover More

Synonym Study

See contempt.

Discover More

Example Sentences

Unlike neck ruffles, scorned writers never go out of style.

From Los Angeles Times

He is also loathed for creating the difficult journey his players must endure to get there, constantly blaming them, publicly scorning them, and instantly benching them.

From Los Angeles Times

Russian media are welcoming the prospect of warmer ties with Washington and pouring scorn on European leaders and Kyiv.

From BBC

Like many who joined the rally, Duran expressed scorn for Musk’s high-profile role as a “special government employee” in the Department of Government Efficiency, which has aggressively slashed spending and jobs at federal agencies.

From Los Angeles Times

That hasn’t prevented scorn from the LGBTQ+ community in Mexico and elsewhere.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

scoring scorned

Browse