as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
has nothing but scorn for newfangled ideas of any kind
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disdain
to show contempt for
scorned the religious traditions of their ancestors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to despise
to ignore in a disrespectful manner
she scorned the advice of her ophthalmologist and had the laser eye surgery anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of scorn
Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
For the next four decades, DERM would survive budget cuts, changing politics and the scorn of developers.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
By then the Illinois-breds — the subject of so much ridicule and scorn when the race-a-day was introduced — had become a success story.
—Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scorn
Noun
The opposition The North Natomas site has drawn scorn from dozens of area residents who arrived at City Hall to voice opposition, plead for the city to reconsider the location and threaten a lawsuit at a recent council meeting.
—Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 16 Mar. 2026
For the next four decades, DERM would survive budget cuts, changing politics and the scorn of developers.
—Jenny Staletovich, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
By then the Illinois-breds — the subject of so much ridicule and scorn when the race-a-day was introduced — had become a success story.
—Neil Milbert, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for scorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorn
Noun
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Can storytelling help move audiences beyond caricatures, outrage, and contempt?—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
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Paxton has repeatedly called Talarico a vegan along the campaign trail — a claim that would make many Texans scoff in contempt.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Verb
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At his behest Aurangzeb—who disdained poetry—sent agents across India and Persia to assemble a literary circle befitting her.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
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In Sondheim’s body of work, Okrent searches for the autobiographical resonances that Sondheim himself mostly disdained.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Though often despised, carp are exceedingly shy and difficult, and great fighters.—
Byron W. Dalrymple,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
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Corporate bosses and some regulators have long despised the practice of rooting for share prices to fall, but defenders say short selling creates an incentive to expose wrongdoing and acts as a check on increasingly passive stock markets.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Monday showed why the Middle East’s generational hatreds are so often treacherous for American presidents.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
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More deeply, San Diego’s Muslims have been puzzling over the roots of the hatred that sent two young men into a holy place with the intent to commit mass murder.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Matt Cardona interrupted the chat and Zayn tried to show Gargano he was still getting disrespected.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
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Don’t think for a moment Dubas won’t feel the heat in Pittsburgh if Penguins fans believe Malkin, Letang or Crosby is disrespected in any manner at the conclusion of their careers.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The indictment also accused Comey of disregarding a substantial risk that his post would be viewed as threatening violence.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
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Alabama in 2017 ended the practice of judicial override and no longer allows a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.—
Kim Chandler,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
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And like Limbaugh, who built himself from a radio shock jock to a media titan by feeding listeners’ grievances, Fuentes tells his audience a story that encourages them to channel their anxieties and frustrations into disdain and hate for women and non-white people.—
Donie O'Sullivan,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
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Many of their performances are blasphemous, and their work only displays hate and mockery of Catholics and the Christian faith.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorn. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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