Disdain

A feeling of contempt or scorn for someone or something; to regard as unworthy.

noun (also verb)

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Imagine This

Imagine a judge who hears a peer's pitch and immediately sneers, arms crossed, and looks away as if the idea is utterly unworthy.

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Sounds Like

dih-SDAYN

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Looks Like

resembles despise in meaning; both express contempt

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Remember This

Disdain is related to deign and derives from Old French desdainer, meaning to despise or scorn.

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Other Forms

disdainingadjective/participle

disdainsverb

disdainedverb

disdainfuladjective

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Connect With

contempt, scorn, derision, look down on, sneer

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Note

Don't confuse with distain (not standard) or with despair. Disdain means to regard with contempt, not to stain or lose hope.

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Study Deeper

Examples

The critic looked at the film with disdain.
She disdains anyone who relies on excuses instead of hard work.

Synonyms

contemptscornderisiondisparagementsneer

Antonyms

admirationrespectesteemreverence

Etymology

From Old French desdainer 'to disdain, scorn,' from des- (prefix) + 'dainer' related to Latin dignus 'worthy' (via the verb deign). The noun appears in Middle English as disdain/desdain.

Mnemonic

Disdain = not deign: to deign is to lower oneself to acknowledge worth; disdain is the opposite—you do not deign to recognize worth.

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Ephemeral

adjective

Lasting for only a short time; short-lived.

Intuition

noun

Intuition is the ability to understand something immediately, without conscious reasoning; a gut feeling or quick, nonrational insight.

Revolutionary

adjective

Relating to or causing a radical, transformative change; introducing innovations that drastically alter a field or practice.

Similar Words

Related words and words with the same part of speech.

Contempt

noun

A strong feeling of disrespect or disdain for someone or something deemed unworthy, or the action of showing such disrespect, especially toward a court or its proceedings.

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