Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense scorns, present participle scorning, past tense, past participle scorned
1. uncountable noun [oft withNOUN]
If you treat someone or something withscorn, you show contempt for them.
Researchers greeted the proposal with scorn.
He reserves particular scorn for the senators who tried to prevent his confirmation.
He became the object of ridicule and scorn.
[Also + for]
Synonyms: contempt, disdain, mockery, derision More Synonyms of scorn
2. verb
If you scorn someone or something, you feel or show contempt for them.
Several leading officers have quite openly scorned the peace talks. [VERB noun]
People scorn me as a single parent. [VERB noun as noun]
Synonyms: despise, reject, disdain, slight More Synonyms of scorn
3. verb
If you scorn something, you refuse to have it or accept it because you think it is not good enough or suitable for you.
...people who scorned traditional methods. [VERB noun]
4.
See to pour scorn on something
scorn in British English
(skɔːn)
noun
1.
open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision
2.
an object of contempt or derision
3. archaic
an act or expression signifying contempt
verb
4.
to treat with contempt or derision
5. (transitive)
to reject with contempt
Derived forms
scorner (ˈscorner)
noun
scornful (ˈscornful)
adjective
scornfully (ˈscornfully)
adverb
scornfulness (ˈscornfulness)
noun
Word origin
C12 schornen, from Old French escharnir, of Germanic origin; compare Old High German scerōn to behave rowdily, obsolete Dutch schern mockery
scorn in American English
(skɔrn)
noun
1.
extreme, often indignant, contempt for someone or something; utter disdain
2.
expression of this in words or manner
3.
the object of such contempt
verb transitive
4.
to regard with scorn; view or treat with contempt
5.
to refuse or reject as wrong or disgraceful
verb intransitive
6. Obsolete
to scoff
SIMILAR WORDS: deˈspise
Derived forms
scorner (ˈscorner)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr escharn < escharnir, to scorn < Gmc base akin to OHG skernon, to mock, scern, a joke < IE base *(s)ker-, to leap, jump about > Gr skairein, to jump, dance
Examples of 'scorn' in a sentence
scorn
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
The Sun (2016)
No one can publicly admit to seeing the bright side without inviting ridicule and scorn.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Some lecturers have poured scorn on the campaign.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The scorn and mockery heaped on this particular law firm was astonishing.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Now he knows how a scorned wife feels.
The Sun (2014)
The plan backfires and the pair end up locked in reciprocal scorn and contempt.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
But one young female trainee poured scorn on the idea.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Some of us who have been exposing this deception over the years have been heaped with scorn.
Christianity Today (2000)
At the heart of her imagining is the bitterness of being scorned by worthless people who have power and money.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She's had enough of being the woman scorned.
The Sun (2016)
They are not a phenomenon to be understood, but objects of ridicule and scorn.
Greeley, Andrew M. Sociology and Religion: A Collection of Readings (1995)
He could not bear his wife 's scorn once she realised he had not succeeded.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
When the scandals came to light, sadness turned to scorn and contempt.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
She's a woman scorned and will do what it takes to hit him where it hurts.
The Sun (2010)
Perhaps the years of abuse, ridicule and scorn make a fully grown redhead all the stronger for it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Remove our legal right to heap scorn, and there is no reason not to do it at all.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Once the gold standard of investment banking, it is the target of political scorn and public ire on two continents.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Public scorn needs to grow.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
To think how I used to scorn people who were always complaining of the cold.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Dealers would not show him, as he had a disconcerting habit of giving his paintings away for free, and he openly showed his scorn for them.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'dWilliam CongreveThe Mourning Bride
In other languages
scorn
British English: scorn NOUN
If you treat someone or something with scorn, you show that you do not like or respect them.
Researchers greeted the proposal with scorn.
American English: scorn
Brazilian Portuguese: desprezo
Chinese: 轻蔑之意
European Spanish: desprecio
French: dédain
German: Verachtung
Italian: disprezzo
Japanese: 軽べつ
Korean: 경멸
European Portuguese: desprezo
Latin American Spanish: desprecio
British English: scorn VERB
If you scorn someone or something, you feel or show contempt for them.
Several leading officers have quite openly scorned the peace talks.
American English: scorn
Brazilian Portuguese: desprezar
Chinese: 轻蔑
European Spanish: despreciar
French: mépriser
German: verachten
Italian: disprezzare
Japanese: 軽べつする
Korean: 경멸하다
European Portuguese: desprezar
Latin American Spanish: despreciar
Chinese translation of 'scorn'
scorn
(skɔːn)
n(u)
鄙视(視) (bǐshì)
vt
(= despise) 瞧不起 (qiáobuqǐ)
(= reject) 拒绝(絕) (jùjué)
(noun)
Definition
open contempt for a person or thing
They greeted the proposal with scorn.
Synonyms
contempt
I will treat that remark with the contempt it deserves.
disdain
She looked at him with disdain.
mockery
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
despite
slight
sneer
Best-selling authors may have to face the sneers of the literati.
sarcasm
His voice was heavy with sarcasm.
disparagement
They were unanimous in their disparagement of the book.
contumely (literary)
contemptuousness
scornfulness
Opposites
respect
,
esteem
,
admiration
,
acceptance
,
affection
,
worship
,
tolerance
,
high regard
,
toleration
,
veneration
(verb)
Definition
to refuse to have or do (something) because it is felt to be undesirable or wrong
people who scorned traditional methodsPeople scorn me as a single parent.
Synonyms
despise
How I despised myself for my cowardice.
reject
disdain
a political leader who disdained the compromises of politics
slight
They felt slighted by not being adequately consulted.
scout (archaic)
snub
shun
be above
spurn
a spurned lover
rebuff
After the argument he rebuffed all their invitations.
deride
This theory is widely derided by conventional scientists.
flout
illegal campers who persist in flouting the law
look down on
scoff at
make fun of
sneer at
hold in contempt
turn up your nose at (informal)
contemn
curl your lip at
consider beneath you
Opposites
respect
,
admire
,
esteem
,
accept
,
worship
,
tolerate
,
revere
,
venerate
,
look favourably on
Quotation
Heav'n has no rage, like love to hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a fury, like a woman scorn'd [William Congreve – The Mourning Bride]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of contumely
Definition
a humiliating insult
Synonyms
scorn,
abuse,
insult,
contempt,
humiliation,
arrogance,
disdain,
affront,
indignity,
derision,
rudeness,
opprobrium,
insolence,
obloquy,
superciliousness
in the sense of deride
Definition
to speak of or treat with contempt or ridicule
This theory is widely derided by conventional scientists.
Synonyms
mock,
ridicule,
scorn,
knock (informal),
insult,
taunt,
sneer,
jeer,
disdain,
scoff,
detract,
flout,
disparage,
chaff,
gibe,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
pooh-pooh,
contemn
in the sense of derision
He tried to calm them but was greeted with shouts of derision.
Synonyms
mockery,
laughter,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
insult,
sneering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
denigration,
disparagement,
contumely (literary),
raillery
Synonyms of 'scorn'
scorn
Explore 'scorn' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of disdain
Definition
a feeling of superiority and dislike
She looked at him with disdain.
Synonyms
contempt,
dislike,
scorn,
arrogance,
indifference,
sneering,
derision,
hauteur,
snobbishness,
contumely (literary),
haughtiness,
superciliousness
in the sense of disdain
Definition
to refuse or reject with disdain
a political leader who disdained the compromises of politics
Synonyms
scorn,
reject,
despise,
slight,
disregard,
spurn,
undervalue,
deride,
look down on,
belittle,
sneer at,
pooh-pooh,
contemn,
look down your nose at (informal),
misprize
in the sense of disparagement
They were unanimous in their disparagement of the book.
Synonyms
contempt,
criticism,
ridicule,
discredit,
condemnation,
scorn,
lessening,
depreciation,
disdain,
degradation,
denunciation,
derision,
slander,
denigration,
debasement,
underestimation,
derogation,
contumely (literary),
aspersion,
belittlement,
detraction
in the sense of flout
Definition
to deliberately disobey (a rule, law, etc.)
illegal campers who persist in flouting the law
Synonyms
defy,
scorn,
spurn,
scoff at,
outrage,
insult,
mock,
scout (archaic),
ridicule,
taunt,
deride,
sneer at,
jeer at,
take the piss out of (taboo, slang),
laugh in the face of,
show contempt for,
gibe at,
treat with disdain
in the sense of mockery
Definition
ridicule, contempt, or derision
Was there a glint of mockery in his eyes?
Synonyms
derision,
contempt,
ridicule,
scorn,
jeering,
disdain,
scoffing,
disrespect,
gibes,
contumely (literary)
in the sense of rebuff
Definition
to snub and reject an offer or suggestion
After the argument he rebuffed all their invitations.
Synonyms
reject,
decline,
refuse,
turn down,
cut (informal),
check,
deny,
resist,
slight,
discourage,
put off,
snub,
spurn,
knock back (slang),
brush off (slang),
repulse,
cold-shoulder
in the sense of sarcasm
Definition
mocking or ironic language intended to insult someone
His voice was heavy with sarcasm.
Synonyms
irony,
satire,
cynicism,
contempt,
ridicule,
bitterness,
scorn,
sneering,
mockery,
venom,
derision,
vitriol,
mordancy,
causticness
in the sense of slight
Definition
to insult (someone) by behaving rudely
They felt slighted by not being adequately consulted.
Synonyms
snub,
insult,
ignore,
rebuff,
affront,
neglect,
put down,
despise,
scorn,
disdain,
disparage,
cold-shoulder,
treat with contempt,
show disrespect for,
give offence or umbrage to
in the sense of sneer
Best-selling authors may have to face the sneers of the literati.