flout

verb

ˈflau̇t How to pronounce flout (audio)
Definition of floutnext
as in to disregard
to ignore in a disrespectful manner an able-bodied motorist openly flouting the law and parking in a space reserved for the disabled

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word flout distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of flout are fleer, gibe, jeer, scoff, and sneer. While all these words mean "to show one's contempt in derision or mockery," flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

When can fleer be used instead of flout?

In some situations, the words fleer and flout are roughly equivalent. However, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

When would gibe be a good substitute for flout?

While in some cases nearly identical to flout, gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

Where would jeer be a reasonable alternative to flout?

Although the words jeer and flout have much in common, jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

When is it sensible to use scoff instead of flout?

The words scoff and flout can be used in similar contexts, but scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

When might sneer be a better fit than flout?

While the synonyms sneer and flout are close in meaning, sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

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 flout Hungarian authorities pressed charges against Budapest Mayor Gergely Karacsony, one of the country’s most prominent opposition figures, for flouting a police ban of the annual Pride parade last year. —Thomas Escritt, Bloomberg, 28 Jan. 2026 Lady Amelia flouted royal style protocol in a plunging silver crop top that dipped all the way to her chest and bared several inches of midriff. —Lara Walsh, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026 Under Noem, officials from the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have flouted congressional authority. —Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026 Others have doubled down or flouted the criticism. —Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flout
  1. disregard
  2. despise
  3. forget
Verb
  • Then, as Musk has been prone to do, the former presidential adviser disregarded much of his previous explanation and said that building a civilization on Mars was still an option, just that building on the Moon is SpaceX’s current priority.
    — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 9 Feb. 2026
  • Decades of pandering to public employee unions, bloating of bureaucratic staffs, and disregarding voter wishes regarding the outsourcing of local services and limiting pensions have been identified.
    — U T Readers, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Definition of disregard
Verb
  • An unofficial list provided by the Rhode Island Invasive Species Council includes a number of aggressive plants that are widely despised by gardeners, such as Norway maple, Oriental bittersweet, Tree of Heaven, autumn olive, garlic mustard and Japanese knotweed.
    — Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The production reimagines the titular character as Alice, a novelist who despises hollow contemporary mantras and faces backlash for speaking her mind.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of despise
Verb
  • Crazy how that works, and crazy that so many people seem to have forgotten that lesson (and many others) from their civics classes in high school.
    — Brenda Looper, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
  • But even if that New Year's resolution of clearing out the basement once and for all has been forgotten or abandoned by now, the year is still young.
    — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 11 Feb. 2026
Definition of forget

Browse Nearby Words

floury
flout
flouted
See all Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Flout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flout. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on flout

Nglish: Translation of flout for Spanish Speakers

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