disdainful

[ dis-deyn-fuhl ]

/ dɪsˈdeɪn fəl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: disdainful / disdainfully / disdainfulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

full of or showing disdain; scornful.

OTHER WORDS FOR disdainful

contemptuous, derisive, haughty, supercilious, contumelious.

See synonyms for disdainful on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of disdainful

First recorded in 1535–45; disdain + -ful

OTHER WORDS FROM disdainful

dis·dain·ful·ly, adverbdis·dain·ful·ness, noun

Words nearby disdainful

discussant, discussion, discutient, disc wheel, disdain, disdainful, disdainfully, disease, diseased, disease determinant, diseconomy

How to use disdainful in a sentence

They have been particularly disdainful of charters such as Uncommon Schools, where Lemov is a managing director and where students from low-income families have shown high achievement.
Author of teacher bestsellers warns against flawed social justice concepts|Jay Mathews|September 26, 2021|Washington Post
He was as disdainful about the modern breed of leaders as he was about the Polish intellectuals back then.
Lech Walesa: Obama Couldn’t Accomplish What I Did|Nico Hines|October 25, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Despite a dithering Congress and a disdainful American public, the diplomatic doors opened.
Suddenly, Great Expectations for Iran-U.S. Relations|Christopher Dickey|September 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Stewart was disdainful of the upstart network, and in the final meeting to sign the contract, would not even look at Ober.
Food Fight! The Seven Biggest Rivalries Inside the Food Network|Thomas Flynn|September 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Jim Messina, Obama campaign manager, called the statement “shocking” and “disdainful.”
What Romney Gets Right About the 47 Percent|Alex Klein|September 18, 2012|DAILY BEAST
But Beverly Hills Police Chief David L. Snowden was openly disdainful about some of the theories connected to the Chasen case.
Police Reveal Suspected Chasen Killer|Nicole LaPorte|December 9, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The stranger turned, and stared at Garnache with a look of wonder that artfully changed to one of disdainful recognition.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
As to the chapter of his loves, he for ever placed a seal upon his fine and disdainful lips.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
He is more inclined to be restless than to be haughty or disdainful; he is only uncomfortable to himself.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre
The proud and disdainful will find precisely in society the contrary of what they expect, which is to be esteemed.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre|Jean de La Bruyre
Eliza, glancing at Miss Prall, took her cue and looked disdainful of the whole affair.
In the Onyx Lobby|Carolyn Wells

British Dictionary definitions for disdainful

disdainful

/ (dɪsˈdeɪnfʊl) /

adjective

showing or feeling disdain

Derived forms of disdainful

disdainfully, adverbdisdainfulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

disdainful

OTHER WORDS FOR disdainful

Origin of disdainful

OTHER WORDS FROM disdainful

Words nearby disdainful

Words related to disdainful

How to use disdainful in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for disdainful

Derived forms of disdainful