disdain

American  

[dis-deyn, dih-steyn] / dɪsˈdeɪn, dɪˈsteɪn /

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:

   arrogance, haughtiness

   Antonyms:

   admiration

disdain British  

/ 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

Related Words

See contempt.

Other Word Forms

• self-disdain noun
• undisdaining adjective

Etymology

Origin of disdain

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

Example Sentences

They could stink of wonder and fear and disdain all at once, and an animal never knew which they’d act on.

From Literature

And too often we disdain politeness as phony rather than respect it as the tribute that vice pays to virtue.

From The Wall Street Journal

Still, amid the delights of Mr. Koolhaas’s stair, there are reminders that he is part of the generation of Deconstructivist architects who disdained the profession’s traditional values of unity, harmony and stability.

From The Wall Street Journal

Still, large portions of all social classes remain united in their disdain for this regime.

From The Wall Street Journal

In addition to grime, gore and disdain for governments, the ragtime gangsters of “Peaky Blinders” provided a minor education.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• antipathy
• arrogance
• aversion
• contempt
• derision
• dislike
• hatred
• pride
• ridicule
• scorn