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
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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
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Recent Examples of disdain
Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Recession-indicator jokes are everywhere — anything that hits at an intersection of vague nostalgia and bizarre disdain can be a sign of our tanking economy.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 July 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
The progress marks a dramatic turn in Trump’s long-standing, long-public disdain for the EU, a view that served as the backdrop to months of frustrating and intractable trade discussions this year.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 9 July 2025
Recession-indicator jokes are everywhere — anything that hits at an intersection of vague nostalgia and bizarre disdain can be a sign of our tanking economy.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 July 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
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This containment allows partners to express anger, frustration or hurt without slipping into destructive patterns like contempt, stonewalling or emotional withdrawal.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Rather, state law says they can be held in contempt of court or sued by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
Verb
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As the moon clashes with Saturn, the sense that you’ve been disrespected eats at you.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
9 July 2025
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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
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There’s a great tradition in sports of being driven by a fear, or a hatred, of that feeling.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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She’s been feeling so much hatred, so much anger, so much sadness, so much disappointment these last few episodes.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 July 2025
Verb
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It was purposefully exploited because people will hate anything that’s different.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
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Fans wouldn't hate adding an extra game to the football season.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Verb
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On state television, tightly controlled by the Kremlin, Washington’s U-turn on providing weapons to Ukraine has been roundly slated, with President Trump being compared to his presidential predecessor, widely despised in Russia.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
15 July 2025
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What Gauguin despised was the misapplication of religion, not religion itself.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
Verb
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His ostentatious well-being is scorned by Walker, who equates equilibrium with compromise.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
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As master of ceremonies at her Fool’s Moon cabaret, Puella displays the kind of unearned self-assurance that usually wins praise for men and scorn for women.—
Michael Snyder,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disdain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdain. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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