scorn

[skawrn]

noun

1. open or unqualified contempt; disdain.

   His face and attitude showed the scorn he felt.

   Synonyms: contumely

2. an object of derision or contempt.

3. a derisive or contemptuous action or speech.

   Antonyms: praise

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or regard with contempt or disdain.

   They scorned the old beggar.

   Synonyms: detest, despise, contemn, disdain

2. to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain.

   She scorned my help.

verb (used without object)

1. to mock; jeer.

scorn

/ skɔːn /

noun

1. open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision

2. an object of contempt or derision

3. archaic,  an act or expression signifying contempt

verb

1. to treat with contempt or derision

2. (tr) to reject with contempt

Other Word Forms

• scorner noun
• scorningly adverb
• outscorn verb (used with object)
• self-scorn noun
• scornfully adverb
• scornfulness noun
• scornful adjective

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

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. laugh to scorn, to ridicule; deride.

   Many of his sophisticated listeners laughed him to scorn.

Synonym Study

See contempt.

Example Sentences

Judging from a preview mounted by the Latino museum, Latino Identity | National Museum of the American Latino, the narrative has become even more extreme, the scorn for the nation and its past more intense.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

These groups deserve shame, scorn and diplomatic rebuke — not fawning sympathy and United Nations red carpets.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Is the solution electing a governor for blue California, who — if not openly scorning the state’s millions of Republicans — is willing to render them politically powerless?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

If anything, the contrast between his self-importance and his actual worthlessness is drawing louder scorn all the time.

Read more on Salon

The father beat the son regularly, and scorned nonreligious music as the devil’s work.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abhor 
• defy 
• deride 
• despise 
• disdain 
• disregard 
• flout 
• hate 
• ignore 
• mock 
• refute 
• reject 
• repudiate 
• ridicule 
• shun 
• spurn 
• taunt