scorn
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
idioms
noun
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open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision
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an object of contempt or derision
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archaic an act or expression signifying contempt
verb
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to treat with contempt or derision
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(tr) to reject with contempt
Synonym Usage
See contempt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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scornfulnessnoun
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outscornverb (used with object)
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scornfuladjective
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scornernoun
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scornfullyadverb
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scorninglyadverb
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self-scornnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has scornedperfect 3rd person singular
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have scornedperfect
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am scorningprogressive 1st person singular
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is scorningprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been scorningperfect progressive
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scorningparticiple
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are scorningprogressive
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has been scorningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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scornssingular 3rd person
Past
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had scornedperfect
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were scorningprogressive plural
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scornedparticiple
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had been scorningperfect progressive
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was scorningprogressive singular
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scornedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of scorn
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
Explanation
Scorn is open disrespect for someone or something. It can also be disrespect coupled with feelings of intense dislike. The noun scorn describes your feelings of disdain when you encounter something you view as worthless or inferior — like, for instance, a talk show that gets all its facts wrong. Use the verb form for those times when you’re actively expressing scorn. You might scorn a politician who spends $100,000 on travel while claiming to work hard promoting middle-class values.
Vocabulary lists containing scorn
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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List 7
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Scorn for trade agreements simply serves as the first example of this new attitude.
From New York Times • Jan. 31, 2017
Scorn has turned to sympathy which has turned to empathy, though it didn't happen in time to save Gimblett, or any number of others.
From The Guardian • Feb. 12, 2013
French President Francois Hollande’s Inability to Tie a Necktie Earns France’s Scorn French President Francois Hollande had barely taken office when he got in the hottest of hot water—in France at least: a sartorial gaffe.
From Newsweek • Nov. 10, 2012
Grimlock is the main dino, though the creature variations include Scorn, Slash, Slug and Strafe.
From Los Angeles Times
Scorn ingratitude and "Throw no stone into the well whence thou hast drunk," and bear ever in mind the difficult lesson, "Teach thy tongue to say I do not know."
From Proverb Lore Many sayings, wise or otherwise, on many subjects, gleaned from many sources by Hulme, F. Edward (Frederick Edward)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
