as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
showing undisguised disdain for the other employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to disrespect
to show contempt for
disdained the deserter as a coward
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disdain
David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
Dobbins cited his father, Lance, being a diehard Red Sox fan when explaining his disdain for the pinstripes.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025
Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
The Republicans who disdained him and tried to terminate his leadership have made his point by leaving the party and becoming Democrats (or at least voting for Democrats).
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disdain
Noun
Donald Trump concurred, if only to show disdain for Obama.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
Dobbins cited his father, Lance, being a diehard Red Sox fan when explaining his disdain for the pinstripes.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025
Verb
The Minervois is a sunny land of black truffles, red marble, oak and juniper forests and castles constructed by Cathars (pescatarian Christians who disdained the symbol of the cross, were branded as heretics and subsequently slaughtered wholesale by Papal decree in the 13th century).
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
The Republicans who disdained him and tried to terminate his leadership have made his point by leaving the party and becoming Democrats (or at least voting for Democrats).
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disdain
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disdain
Noun
-
And to date, the Republican majority, which has subpoena power, which has the ability to move bills to the floor, which has the ability to hold administration officials in contempt, has shown precisely zero interest in doing that.—
Michel Martin,
NPR,
24 June 2025
-
Violating the terms of a gang injunction could land someone in contempt of court, a misdemeanor that carries up to a six-month sentence.—
Sean Emery,
Oc Register,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
As the moon clashes with Saturn, the sense that you’ve been disrespected eats at you.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
-
Ramsey reportedly was routinely late for team practices and openly disrespected McDaniel, Grier and former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in front of teammates.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 July 2025
Noun
-
It's been very difficult to see just how much of this hatred has been normalized.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
1 July 2025
-
Period drama enthusiasts will be interested to know that Wright set the movie in the late-18th century instead of the early-19th century in part because of his hatred of empire waist dresses.—
Lia Beck,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Bullies hate that because kindness takes their power away.—
Rob Salkowitz,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Fans wouldn't hate adding an extra game to the football season.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Centrists despised the deep cuts to programs for the poor and elderly.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
1 July 2025
-
Many of them love their country but despise what the regime has turned it into.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
True to its name, the community for many years served as a target of laughter and scorn.—
Jeffrey Steele,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
-
Kidman, who was 54 at the time, was both praised and scorned for the glaring youthfulness of her skin-baring look.—
Laura Neilson,
Vogue,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disdain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdain. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share