scorn

1 of 2

noun

1
: open dislike and disrespect or mockery often mixed with indignation
2
: an expression of contempt or derision
3
: an object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision : something contemptible

scorn

2 of 2

verb

scorned; scorning; scorns

transitive verb

: to treat with scorn : reject or dismiss as contemptible or unworthy
scorned local traditions
scorned to reply to the charge

intransitive verb

: to show disdain or derision : scoff
scorner noun
Choose the Right Synonym for scorn

despise, contemn, scorn, disdain mean to regard as unworthy of one's notice or consideration.

despise may suggest an emotional response ranging from strong dislike to loathing.

despises cowards

contemn implies a vehement condemnation of a person or thing as low, vile, feeble, or ignominious.

contemns the image of women promoted by advertisers

scorn implies a ready or indignant contempt.

scorns the very thought of retirement

disdain implies an arrogant or supercilious aversion to what is regarded as unworthy.

disdained popular music

Examples of scorn in a Sentence

Noun Unlike government censorship, this corruption eats at one of China's more beleaguered professions from within its ranks. The trading of favors for cash is so prevalent that, like the honest cop in a corrupt police unit, an ethical journalist risks the scorn of colleagues. Gady A. Epstein, Forbes, 21 July 2008
He burns with generous indignation at the scorn with which many literary critics have treated Tolkien, and his subtitle, "author of the Century," is meant to provoke. But provocation is only one of his purposes. Richard Jenkyns, New Republic, 28 Jan. 2002
Claiming their inalienable rights as teenagers, the two exercise an unmitigated scorn for all adults in the immediate vicinity … B. Ruby Rich, Nation, 3 & 10 Sept. 2001
They treated his suggestion with scorn. an expression full of scorn Her political rivals have poured scorn on her ideas for improving the tax system. Verb My parents scorned packaged and ready-made foods. It did not matter that, at the time, our hometown was a test-market capital for these sorts of food products; my father still thought that convenience food was a Communist plot, and my mother insisted that only trashy people failed to practice a separation of food groups. Molly O'Neill, Vogue, January 2007
A union member and activist since age 15, bound for an academic career at Cornell and NYU, Fitch, now past 65, writes like a lover scorned. Rob Long, National Review, 13 Feb. 2006
Stung by attacks on his new Excursion—a 12.5-m.p.g. guzzler dubbed "Ford Valdez" by critics—he has expressed fears that auto companies could be scorned like tobacco companies if they don't clean up their act. Similarly, GM has sought to position itself as the greenest car company, beginning in 1996 when it launched the nation's first modern, mass-produced electric car, the EV-1. Margot Roosevelt, Time, 14 Aug. 2000
He scorns anyone who earns less money than he does. Her actions were scorned by many people. They were scorned as fanatics.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The paper drew a degree of scorn, some of it justified. Steven Desmyter, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024 Not surprisingly, the mix of corruption, incompetence, and weakness have led many Palestinians to look on Abbas with scorn. Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2024 Emmer drew Trump’s scorn for voting to certify the 2020 Electoral College results, along with Stauber among Republicans in the Minnesota delegation. Mark Zdechlik, Twin Cities, 3 Jan. 2024 Moreover, the whole concept of the metaverse became the subject of mainstream scorn, in no small part thanks to Mark Zuckerberg’s efforts to popularize it. Ryan Faughnder, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2024 But De Meo also made little effort to hide his scorn for Wall Street investors who first hyped EV manufacturers into the stratosphere, before rushing to dump them overboard. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 30 Jan. 2024 Though people really do cast a deep scorn on the other side’s political leaders and outspoken partisans. Marshall Ingwerson, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Feb. 2024 The show was a classic from the get-go, driven by a deep appreciation for character and motivation and a deep scorn for capitalistic swagger. Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 17 Dec. 2023 Gallardo’s scorn for the paternalism of an economic system in which the rich control even the souls of the poor is understated but vicious. S. C. Cornell, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2023
Verb
Afterward, the northern Sayyids were scorned as relics of a benighted theocratic era, and many fell into poverty. Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 5 Mar. 2024 The actress attacks the role with her typical intensity, portraying Lorna as a sort of feral animal in human form, alternately mocked and feared, pitied and scorned. Chris Vognar, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2024 Sophia scorned the idea of leaving Kherson, and said her days are a race between three different aid handouts. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 The battle over federal health care data Hell hath no fury like a health care researcher scorned. Bob Herman Reprints, STAT, 20 Feb. 2024 His teammate, Travis Kelce, was scorned for throwing a helmet in a moment of frustration. Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Feb. 2024 While the series has generally felt pro-Queen but anti-monarchy, the conclusion reflects a chaotic mix of reverence and scorn that can’t quite extricate the Queen from the larger mess. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 14 Dec. 2023 Some of the foreign journalists Carlson scorned have been detained. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024 Looming over them is economic power, which has occupied a fluctuating position in the West—worshipped, except when it is scorned. Evan Osnos, The New Yorker, 22 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scorn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French escharne, escar, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scern jest

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of scorn was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near scorn

Cite this Entry

“Scorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scorn. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

scorn

1 of 2 noun
1
: a feeling of anger and disgust
2
: someone or something very much disliked

scorn

2 of 2 verb
1
: to show scorn for
2
: to reject or dismiss because of scorn : disdain
scorned local traditions
scorner noun

More from Merriam-Webster on scorn

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