1
as in contemptuous
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern
a disdainful attitude toward people who work as waiters and waitresses
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
disdainful of manual labor of any kind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
disdainful remarks regarding the cheap clothes that the local people were wearing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disdainful
Most Democrats and independents — 82% and 54%, respectively — said Trump was disdainful to Zelenskyy, while just 19% of Republicans thought the same.
—
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
Lingering at the edge of the group was Suzie, a petite woman with wild, white-blond hair as well as the spry yet disdainful affect of an inner-city nun.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
Lingering at the edge of the group was Suzie, a petite woman with wild, white-blond hair as well as the spry yet disdainful affect of an inner-city nun.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disdainful
Adjective
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This is a club that had failed to lift domestic silverware for 70 years and, for more than three-quarters of Neave’s life, had displayed an almost contemptuous attitude towards knockout competitions.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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In contrast to contemptuous speech, treating people with dignity recognizes the inherent worth of every person and leaves space for holding people accountable by focusing on facts, actions, decisions and outcomes.—
Timothy Shriver,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2025
Adjective
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In the next round that year, Boston lost Game 6 at home to the Heat before knocking out Jimmy Butler and his proud team by capturing Game 7 in Miami.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
15 May 2025
Adjective
-
Major studios have grown gun-shy about funding anything remotely risky; even a risk well taken can prompt a knee-jerk, scornful reaction from not only the executives but also the press: The film could, even should, have done better.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2025
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Meghan Markle's Netflix Backlash Meghan's Netflix show earned scornful reviews not only in the British press, long the villains of Meghan and Prince Harry's narrative, but also among U.S. outlets that previously provided glowing coverage.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
For example, when a man in his sixties talks about the same thing, he’s seen as calm and logical, but when a woman in her twenties talks about it, she’s seen as arrogant or trying to act mature.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
15 May 2025
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By losing some of its arrogant charm, Doom has also lost the means to back it up.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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The idea that women need to be properly taught how to conceive a child through a government program is a particularly insulting proposal, says Reshma Saujani, the founder and CEO of Moms First.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
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But in March, U.S. District Judge Benjamin Settle in Tacoma, Wash., ruled for several long-serving transgender military members who say that the ban is insulting and discriminatory and that their firing would cause lasting damage to their careers and reputations.—
Mark Sherman,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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What Israel is promising is not yet another round of fighting, but a criminal escalation of a morally abhorrent war.—
Zack Beauchamp,
Vox,
12 May 2025
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Our hearts go out to all of those affected by this abhorrent act.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Remember the times when United, with all their haughty ambitions, used to look down on the clunky Thursday-Sunday routine of Europe’s second-tier competition?—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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Widowed twice, Etheldreda is left to care for her own two children, her haughty stepdaughter, and a peregrine falcon.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
EW.com,
13 May 2025
Adjective
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The ransomware attacks in question started with malicious Google Ads deployed by the threat actors.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
11 May 2025
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Tyler Chase Butler, 27, was arrested at the scene and was charged on May 6 with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disdainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdainful. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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