1,400 new words in our dictionary! — Parasocial, glow-up, promposal & more
1,400 new words in our dictionary! — More

disrespect 1 of 2

noun

Definition of disrespectnext
as in disrespectfulness
rude behavior treated the resort's service workers with haughty disrespect

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

disrespect

2 of 2

verb

ˌdis-ri-ˈspekt How to pronounce disrespect (audio)
1
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in a comedian who shuns jokes that disrespect people because of their appearance

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to disdain
to show contempt for the player once again disrespected fans by refusing to sign autographs

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 disrespect
Noun
The Grammy-winning co-founder of Havana’s San Isidro Movement was convicted of public disorder and disrespect for national symbols, a case that rights groups call political persecution. — Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 Otero Alcántara, who was serving five years on charges of showing disrespect to national symbols, was set to be released from Guanjay, a maximum-security prison roughly 35 miles southwest of Havana, on July 9. — News Desk, Artforum, 15 July 2026
Verb
Anything less grossly disrespects the students they are elected to serve. — Elaine Gantz Berman, Denver Post, 27 July 2026 Kenzie completely rejects Corbin’s because Corbin, having disrespected her, is now dead to her. — Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for disrespect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disrespect
  1. rudeness
  2. insult
  3. disdain
  4. discourtesy
  5. offend
  6. hate
  7. arrogance
  8. outrage
Noun
  • The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • Tell her about the long, unwelcome chats, the bullying and the rudeness.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 25 June 2026
Definition of rudeness
Verb
  • There were also insulting chants against Sanchez, another sign of the noisy debate over the government's handling of the crisis.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Platner also apologized for old online comments that included insulting language about women, police and rural residents.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of insult
Verb
  • Although the Constitution requires congressional involvement in war-making, Trump like Nixon disdained that mandate with terrible consequences.
    — Elizabeth Holtzman, New York Daily News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Most telling is how openly Stassi disdains the idea of therapy, even insisting to the horror of pretty much everyone else onscreen that forcing hard conversations on reality TV is her therapy.
    — Caroline Framke, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of disdain
Noun
  • Any display of discourtesy is an assertion of power, and those with more power tend to be more prone to abuse it.
    — Franklin Schneider, The Atlantic, 11 Dec. 2025
  • At least seven different civilian complaints have been lodged against the sergeant, alleging excessive force, discourtesy and abuse of authority.
    — Shayla Colon, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of discourtesy
Verb
  • Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is standing just steps away from the mayor at the ceremony, said that Mamdani’s presence would offend him.
    — Miles J. Herszenhorn, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • For that, their game — analyzing randomness and violence and doing so without offending our intelligence — has become as important to the American audience as The Game.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of offend
Verb
  • Barack Obama announced the death at 13 of Sunny, the former first pooch from his second presidential term and a Portuguese water dog who hated to get wet.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Within a relationship or in its wake, love and hate often cohabitate.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of hate
Noun
  • What might seem arrogance in others feels merely reasonable coming from her.
    — Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But while that might suggest arrogance, Dawson’s answer to another question reflects humility.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of arrogance
Verb
  • When bulldozers were spotted clearing land in the park in August, people across the state were outraged.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • To the casual YouTube viewer, these would look like unconnected videos from political news creators outraged by events happening in cities led by Democrats.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of outrage

Browse Nearby Words

disreputes
disrespect
disrespected
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Disrespect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disrespect. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of watershed

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 18
See More

Popular

See More

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All