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
Trump has long held a scorn for Washington, which as a stand-alone city operates similar to a state but without the autonomy, and its permanent population. Philip Elliott, Time, 11 Aug. 2025 It's been a long road from scorn to celebration, and part of that journey comes through generational exposure to the characters. Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 26 July 2025
Verb
Commercial success as Lilith Fair grew new album sales and earned Grammy nominations for its individual artists on tour only fueled unrelenting industry and media scorn. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 Sep. 2025 While oud can be polarizing—prized by some for its longevity and scorned by others for its animalic bite—the version in this bottle is rounder, creamier, and more nuanced than your standard-issue oud oil, with a clarity that feels paradoxical given its depth. Adam Hurly, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for scorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorn
Noun
  • Trump’s contempt for legal norms and Guantánamo’s legacy of ambiguous legality are thus a fitting match, however disturbing that compatibility may be.
    Miriam Pensack, The Dial, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Franklin and Valley have appealed that contempt of court ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Lewis Wedlock, a social psychologist specializing in masculinities, notes that the term is especially cutting when a man uses it to refer to another man, which can imply disdain for his authenticity and his submission in pandering to women.
    Ashleigh N. DeLuca, Parents, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Kleinfeld disdains the concept of work-life separation.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Really loved, obsessively loved and despised by every critic.
    Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
  • His pushback against an effort to overhaul capital requirements earned him praise from Washington allies of the banking industry, which despised that proposal.
    Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Raised under Augusta’s religious terror and hatred for women, Ed tries to hide his penchant for ladies’ underwear and masturbation to no avail.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Not as a land of fear, not as a divisiveness, not of government censorship, not of hatred.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Your husband overreacted and disrespected you, slapping food and mocking you.
    Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Even though many media members and fans have disrespected him by calling him a game manager, Hurts has continued to make plays.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In their complaint, the unions allege the budget office's memo unlawfully directs agencies to disregard their own authorizing statutes.
    Franco Ordoñez, NPR, 2 Oct. 2025
  • If a customer has no option to disregard or modify the charge, it cannot be deducted from the employee’s income.
    Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Some hate can't be negotiated out.
    Michael Ruiz , Adam Sabes, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The reasons for loving Adams in Leeds white were the same reasons for hating him while playing for the opposition.
    Beren Cross, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Scorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorn. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

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