1
as in contemptuous
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern
a disdainful attitude toward people who work as waiters and waitresses
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
disdainful of manual labor of any kind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
disdainful remarks regarding the cheap clothes that the local people were wearing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disdainful
Most Democrats and independents — 82% and 54%, respectively — said Trump was disdainful to Zelenskyy, while just 19% of Republicans thought the same.
—
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
Lingering at the edge of the group was Suzie, a petite woman with wild, white-blond hair as well as the spry yet disdainful affect of an inner-city nun.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2025
Danielle Haim sings, more disdainful than saddened by the dissolution at the heart of the single.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025
From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025
Lingering at the edge of the group was Suzie, a petite woman with wild, white-blond hair as well as the spry yet disdainful affect of an inner-city nun.
—Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disdainful
Adjective
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Yet the Administration persisted with its disobedient, if not contemptuous, behavior.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
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According to an ancient Greek myth, all those who had fallen in love with the young man Narcissus were met with contemptuous rejection.—
Abigayle Ward,
Hartford Courant,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Christine Brown's 6 Children: All About Her Son and Daughters with Sister Wives Costar and Ex Kody Brown In December 2022, Christine shared a proud mom moment with her followers on Instagram, explaining how Truely stood up to a bully at school who was bothering her friend.—
Karli Bendlin,
People.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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Jaylon is a proud alumnus of the University of Georgia.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Meghan Markle's Netflix Backlash Meghan's Netflix show earned scornful reviews not only in the British press, long the villains of Meghan and Prince Harry's narrative, but also among U.S. outlets that previously provided glowing coverage.—
Daniel R. Depetris,
Newsweek,
25 Mar. 2025
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The Nosotros people had returned Borja’s bribe money to him with no comment, only scornful silence, but the sting of the snub had not gone very deep.—
Charles Portis,
Harper's Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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That doesn’t portray a hero, but rather someone so arrogant as to invent his own law and appoint himself its executioner.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
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Fed Up in Illinois Dear Fed Up: Is Edie mean, arrogant, disobedient and rude in the presence of her parents, or has she been invited to spend time with your girls separately?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Now, however, Memrise charges $59.99 per month, which is insulting.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
16 Apr. 2025
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To compare the incident to a possible leak of a football game plan is insulting to the U.S. military members who secure and safeguard our personal freedom each and every day.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Another recommendation: Attacking Trump’s character, however abhorrent critics may find it, is futile.—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
17 Apr. 2025
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Upholding their right to speak, however painful, affirmed a core truth: An America where even the most abhorrent speech is protected by law, rather than by power or whim, is ultimately a safer America for all.—
Ari Hart,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As the daughter of the haughty Chodron de Courcel and Brondeau d’Urtières families, Bernadette never lacks confidence.—
Armond White,
National Review,
23 Apr. 2025
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Schwarzenegger stars as the haughty, sleazy eldest son of a wealthy family whose patriarch and matriarch are portrayed by Jason Isaacs and Parker Posey, respectively.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
17 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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These emails might include malicious links designed to install malware or steal login information.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Time to update: Apple has discovered hackers exploiting an iOS bug via malicious media files.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disdainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdainful. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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