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Synonyms

scornful

American  
[skawrn-fuhl] / ˈskɔrn fəl /

adjective

  1. full of scorn; derisive; contemptuous,

    He smiled in a scornful way.


Other Word Forms

  • scornfully adverb
  • scornfulness noun
  • unscornful adjective
  • unscornfulness noun

Etymology

Origin of scornful

A Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; scorn, -ful

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.

Administration officials have been scornful of such thinking, reflecting a fundamental shift in American foreign policy that was set out most starkly last month in a new national-security strategy.

From The Wall Street Journal

The politicians, socialites, and Catholic leaders present at the dinner didn’t take the joke well, but their groans weren’t nearly as scornful as the former First Lady’s reaction.

From Salon

Women she spoke with were “scornful” of her approach.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s scornful about John Ray, the experienced financial cleanup artist brought into FTX as its post-bankruptcy CEO to untangle the mess and find whatever assets still exist to pay back customers and creditors.

From Los Angeles Times

Doctors are generally held in high regard today, but Romans of the first century were skeptical, even scornful, of medical practitioners, many of whom ministered to ailments they did not understand.

From New York Times