scorn 1 of 2

scorn

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb scorn differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of scorn are contemn, despise, and disdain. While all these words mean "to regard as unworthy of one's notice or consideration," scorn implies a ready or indignant contempt.

scorns the very thought of retirement

When might contemn be a better fit than scorn?

The words contemn and scorn can be used in similar contexts, but contemn implies a vehement condemnation of a person or thing as low, vile, feeble, or ignominious.

contemns the image of women promoted by advertisers

Where would despise be a reasonable alternative to scorn?

The synonyms despise and scorn are sometimes interchangeable, but despise may suggest an emotional response ranging from strong dislike to loathing.

despises cowards

When is disdain a more appropriate choice than scorn?

In some situations, the words disdain and scorn are roughly equivalent. However, disdain implies an arrogant or supercilious aversion to what is regarded as unworthy.

disdained popular music

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 scorn
Noun
His cultural critiques were unmistakably right-wing, but his scorn for the corporatization of universities might have come from the mouth of a disaffected leftist. Emma Green, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025 Despite the irony of her preoccupation with designer labels designating her as the stuffy one in the Spice Girls, she was met with scorn by the fashion establishment. Scarlett Harris, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
By 1845, Marx was scorning his colleagues for floating in the clouds. Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025 The scorelessness has turned to scorn, too. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorn
Noun
  • In the aftermath of her refusal, Davis was jailed for acting in contempt of court and lost her clerk re-election.
    NPR, NPR, 10 Nov. 2025
  • She was found in contempt of court and spent five nights in jail.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Trump and his circle disdain the Bush-Ryan-Romney Republican Establishment and Clinton-Schumer-Jeffries Democratic Establishment in equal measure.
    Ben Smith, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Even if the 23rd French president’s time behind bars is cut short, the sound of any jailhouse door hitting him in the rear would be a sweet one for the many, many who disdained his right-wing politics and spectacular thirst for attention.
    Alexandra Marshall, Air Mail, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Trump supporters despised him, while some Democrats embraced him — if reluctantly — and still many others would always condemn him as a war criminal for his role in Iraq.
    Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Both brothers despise their father, for good reason.
    Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • My darling, hatred takes the beauty away.
    Tracee Ellis Ross, Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Muschietti touched on this in his movies — the bullying of Mike Hanlon and the hate-crime murder of Adrian Mellon — including the way Pennywise fosters and foments the hatred already lurking in the hearts of Derry’s citizens.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Screech your outrage, ACC schools disrespected by just one bid and pound your shoes on a desk somewhere, Notre Dame haters, especially those in the commonwealth of Kentucky and in the sunny setting of Miami.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
  • In hundreds of communications reviewed by USA TODAY, Rochelle described falling behind on mortgage payments, needing help finding a daycare in Austin and feeling disrespected by caseworkers.
    Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Christo and Jeanne-Claude disregarded all threats of legal action, directing Running Fence to complete its predestined voyage into the sea.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Some of them blatantly disregarded social distancing and basic hand-washing policies and didn’t separate COVID-19 patients’ and non-COVID patients’ laundry.
    Kevin G. Hall, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • All sorts of people love and hate the show for completely opposing reasons, and yet what the show does is bring those people in a room together to watch art and discuss it afterwards.
    David Zucker, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Alfred Hitchcock hated whodunnits.
    Anna Russell, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorn. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

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