as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
has nothing but scorn for newfangled ideas of any kind
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to disdain
to show contempt for
scorned the religious traditions of their ancestors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to despise
to ignore in a disrespectful manner
she scorned the advice of her ophthalmologist and had the laser eye surgery anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of scorn
David Folkenflik, NPR, 8 Dec. 2025
Other women were political leaders who earned the scorn of their contemporaries.
—Time, 24 Nov. 2025
Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Now that scorned versatile player might want to stick it to the 49ers, who’ve allowed six touchdowns to tight ends in the past six games.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scorn
Noun
Paramount came in for particular scorn.
—David Folkenflik, NPR, 8 Dec. 2025
Other women were political leaders who earned the scorn of their contemporaries.
—Time, 24 Nov. 2025
Verb
Western sunniness about coexistence with China, of the Tom Friedman kind, should be scorned.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Now that scorned versatile player might want to stick it to the 49ers, who’ve allowed six touchdowns to tight ends in the past six games.
—Cam Inman, Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scorn
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scorn
Noun
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For his courtroom outbursts, Davis found Thompson in contempt of court and added a little more than four and a half years to his sentence.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Never has Congress compelled the testimony of a former president under threat of contempt charges.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Krikorian said a more traditional law enforcement approach should trade street sweeps for a greater focus on worksite enforcement – something Homan has advocated for, but which Trump disdains.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
-
White supremacy, which is very much alive in the land — turn on the news — disdains every people of color.—
Robert Lloyd,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
-
Emily Brontë’s novel is a book that stains — its emotions seep through generations, its hatreds metastasize, its love transforms into something unholy and permanent.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
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The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Piagentini dismissed those factors as beside the point, saying judges should trust juries’ sentencing decisions and that Davis’ ruling disrespected the jury process.—
Monroe Trombly,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
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In the video, the Kalogeras Sisters said they felt disrespected by staff and attacked by the comics in the audience.—
Anthony Solorzano,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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During closing statements last month, prosecutors argued that the four people disregarded safety precautions, with former employees testifying that the facility failed to use ground straps.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
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The plan also totally disregards the historical and religious sites in the Strip.—
Hussein Ibish,
The Atlantic,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Vonn tapped her toe into Act 2 and didn’t hate it.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
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Bias, hate and stalemate serves no one for very long.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Scorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scorn. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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