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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Now, with Donald J. Trump installed in the White House, Mr. Zelensky is facing a new challenge: maintaining good relations with the country’s most critical ally and a president who has been disdainful toward him and skeptical of military aid.
—
Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
The Victorian Society of New York, which is often highly orthodox and disdainful about these kinds of changes, also came out in favor.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 14 Jan. 2025
The man, no, the boy that 3,000 people had crammed inside London’s Alexandra Palace to see produce history, plus millions more watching at home and in pubs around the UK and the world, was doing it not just with dispassionate ease, or with flamboyant style, but with disdainful relish.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.
—Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2017
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025
The Victorian Society of New York, which is often highly orthodox and disdainful about these kinds of changes, also came out in favor.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 14 Jan. 2025
The man, no, the boy that 3,000 people had crammed inside London’s Alexandra Palace to see produce history, plus millions more watching at home and in pubs around the UK and the world, was doing it not just with dispassionate ease, or with flamboyant style, but with disdainful relish.
—Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Trump has even been disdainful or dismissive of the United States’ traditional allies, such as Mexico and Argentina.
—Christopher Sabatini, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2017
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disdainful
Adjective
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The band was concerned about their record label’s reaction, but despite the movie’s scene with a Myers cameo as a contemptuous exec, Reid insists there was no confrontation.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
24 Sep. 2025
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There are some good, compassionate officers out there, but the general attitude has become cold, cruel and contemptuous toward homeless individuals.—
Bruce Higgins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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These four are all very proud of their special status, which involves democratic processes, including members electing the club’s president, approving (or not) annual accounts, and voting on changes to club statutes at assemblies that must be held once a year.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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The whole purpose of that flag even being created was to have something that Black Americans could be proud of and recognize us as people, as human beings, and as contributors to this country.—
Kyle Denis,
Billboard,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Trump’s reaction to Modi’s trip to Tianjin has been scornful, claiming that India is offering to drop all tariffs on American goods.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
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Trump, too, is scornful of what European diplomacy could achieve, declaring recently that Iran doesn’t want to talk to Europe.—
Garret Martin,
The Conversation,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jackson returns as Wes Bryant, a handsome, intelligent, but arrogant man who had just moved to Seattle and was revealed to be a new medical intern at Grey Sloan.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Jack Cutmore-Scott as Julius Beaufort, an arrogant new money banker at the center of New York society with an interest in Ellen.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
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Perkins said the drink bore the insulting message.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Was in and out of an abhorrent Southampton team last season, but the 21-year-old France youth international midfielder should fare better at Turf Moor.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Those pushing for the firings have argued that teachers and professors with abhorrent views shouldn’t be allowed to influence students.—
Tyler Kingkade,
NBC news,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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In the small Campo dei Tolentini, presided over by the haughty neoclassical columns of the eponymous church, a queue straggles from a tiny bar.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Lellouche stars as unlikely hero Zem, a disillusioned Zone 3 cop with an idealistic militant past, who is teamed with haughty, high-flying Zone 2 officer Salia, played by Adèle Exarchopoulos, after a leading politician is assassinated in Zone 1.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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Beyond removing banners, pop-ups, and videos that automatically play, AdGuard also protects against phishing attempts and malicious ads that can compromise your security.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disdainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdainful. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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