scorn
- open or unqualified contempt; disdain: His face and attitude showed the scorn he felt.
- an object of derision or contempt.
- a derisive or contemptuous action or speech.
- to treat or regard with contempt or disdain: They scorned the old beggar.
- to reject, refuse, or ignore with contempt or disdain: She scorned my help.
- to mock; jeer.
- laugh to scorn, to ridicule; deride: Her good advice was laughed to scorn.
Origin of scorn
Synonyms
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Antonyms
Related Words
despisespurndisdainrepudiatetauntdefyridiculerefutefloutignoredisregardderiderejectshunhateabhormockrefusegiberenounceExamples from the Web for scorning
Contemporary Examples
And so scorning the whole idea of competition just because it can backfire in a tiny minority feels reflexive and unnecessary.
Historical Examples
Shakespeare is perfectly willing to depict Hotspur as scorning the arts.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
Yet perhaps he is only some false flatterer who is scorning us all the time.
Albert DurerT. Sturge Moore
"No, I wasn't listening," said Cecily, scorning apology or excuse.
Tristram of BlentAnthony Hope
Unkind Hermia, to join with men in scorning your poor friend.
Tales from ShakespeareCharles Lamb and Mary Lamb
"Don't want any 'tato," objected Janie, scorning the proffered dish.
Tabitha's VacationRuth Alberta Brown
scorn
- open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision
- an object of contempt or derision
- archaic an act or expression signifying contempt
- to treat with contempt or derision
- (tr) to reject with contempt
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for scorning
scorn
n.
c.1200, a shortening of Old French escarn "mockery, derision, contempt," a common Romanic word (cf. Spanish escarnio, Italian scherno) of Germanic origin, from Proto-Germanic *skarnjan "mock, deride" (cf. Old High German skern "mockery, jest, sport," Middle High German scherzen "to jump with joy").
Probably influenced by Old French escorne "affront, disgrace," which is a back-formation from escorner, literally "to break off (someone's) horns," from Vulgar Latin *excornare (source of Italian scornare "treat with contempt"), from Latin ex- "without" (see ex-) + cornu "horn" (see horn (n.)).
scorn
v.
c.1200, from Anglo-French, Old North French escarnir (Old French escharnir), from the source of scorn (n.). Cf. Old High German skernon, Middle Dutch schernen. Related: Scorned; scorning. Forms in Romanic languages influenced by confusion with Old French escorner "deprive of horns," hence "deprive of honor or ornament, disgrace."