as in sniffing (at)
to show contempt for
I am tired of the way they look down on us like we aren't good enough for them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for looking down (on or upon)
Verb
-
The report cards slammed several teams with anonymous comments that accused some teams of disrespecting players’ families, employing substandard training staffs and other denunciations.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 Feb. 2026 -
After a year of Trump disrespecting European allies, many had wondered how much of the old transatlantic ties remained.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
BrickHeadz are a little divisive, with Lego fans either loving or hating them.—
Kim Snaith,
Space.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Experiential businesses and live events are letting customers find camaraderie by hating in-person.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Looking down (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/looking%20down%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
