scorn

/skɔːrn/ Literary

Say it: SKORN

1. noun Open and bitter contempt or disdain for someone or something considered worthless.
He looked at the flimsy, poorly made product with utter scorn.
2. verb To feel or express intense, open contempt for someone or something.
The celebrated author scorned the idea of writing for money.
3. verb To reject or refuse something because it is considered unworthy.
She scorned to answer such a ridiculous accusation.

📖 Seen in the wild

She felt nothing but scorn for his dishonest tactics.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ scorn in a sentence

The prime minister poured scorn on the opposition's proposal, calling it unworkable.
His revolutionary ideas were initially met with scorn from the scientific community.
She had nothing but scorn for people who were cruel to animals.
With a look of withering scorn, he dismissed the intern's suggestion.
They scorned traditional career paths, choosing instead to start their own business.
The older generation often scorns the music and fashion of the youth.
He was the object of public scorn after the scandal was revealed.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

contempt disdain derision mockery disparagement condescension

contempt · a more internal feeling of looking down on someone as worthless, whereas scorn is often the outward expression.

disdain · suggests a haughty, aloof dismissal from a position of perceived superiority.

derision · implies scorn expressed through ridicule and harsh, mocking laughter.

Opposites: admiration, respect, esteem, praise, reverence

🌱 Where it comes from

Scorn traveled into English from Old French 'escarn', meaning 'mockery' or 'contempt'. This French term itself has Germanic roots, related to words for mocking and taunting. The word has always carried a sharp, cutting edge, evolving from the act of mocking to the profound feeling of contempt that fuels it.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

pour scorn onan object of scorntreat with scornwithering scornopen scornfull of scorn

Scorn is a powerful and often dramatic word, best reserved for intense situations. It implies a contempt that is not hidden but actively and openly expressed. While 'contempt' can be a quiet, internal judgment, 'scorn' is what you see on someone's face or hear in their voice. The idiom 'to pour scorn on' is a very common and forceful way to describe public criticism.

Word family: scornful, scornfully, scorner

💬 Quick answers

What does scorn mean?

Scorn is a strong feeling and expression of open, bitter contempt for someone or something you see as worthless or despicable.

What is the difference between scorn and contempt?

Contempt is the internal feeling of looking down on someone as inferior or worthless. Scorn is often the outward, active expression of that feeling, frequently involving mockery or open dismissal.

Is 'scorn' a strong word?

Yes, scorn is a very strong word. It implies a level of disgust and disrespect that is much more intense than simple disapproval or dislike.

How do you use the phrase 'pour scorn on'?

To 'pour scorn on' something is a common idiom meaning to criticize it harshly and contemptuously, often in public. For example, 'The critics poured scorn on the director's latest film.'

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