Library / English Dictionary

DISDAIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A communication that indicates lack of respect by patronizing the recipient

Synonyms:

condescension; disdain; patronage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("disdain" is a kind of...):

depreciation; derogation; disparagement (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

Example:

the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary

Synonyms:

contempt; despite; disdain; scorn

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Hypernyms ("disdain" is a kind of...):

dislike (a feeling of aversion or antipathy)

Derivation:

disdain (look down on with disdain)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Reject with contempt

Example:

She spurned his advances

Synonyms:

disdain; freeze off; pooh-pooh; reject; scorn; spurn; turn down

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "disdain" is one way to...):

decline; refuse (show unwillingness towards)

Verb group:

decline; pass up; refuse; reject; turn down (refuse to accept)

refuse; reject; turn away; turn down (refuse entrance or membership)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disdain"):

rebuff; repel; snub (reject outright and bluntly)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Look down on with disdain

Example:

The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately

Synonyms:

contemn; despise; disdain; scorn

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "disdain" is one way to...):

detest; hate (dislike intensely; feel antipathy or aversion towards)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "disdain"):

look down on (regard with contempt)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Sam cannot disdain Sue

Derivation:

disdain (lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike)

Credits

 Context examples: 

"It would do," I affirmed with some disdain, perfectly well.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Anne sighed and blushed and smiled, in pity and disdain, either at her friend or herself.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

I have no patience with such of my sex as disdain to let themselves sometimes down to the comprehension of yours.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

He disdained such valuation.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

As the Count saw us, a horrible sort of snarl passed over his face, showing the eye-teeth long and pointed; but the evil smile as quickly passed into a cold stare of lion-like disdain.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

His mind, now disengaged from the cares which had pressed on him at first, was at leisure to find the Grants and their young inmates really worth visiting; and though infinitely above scheming or contriving for any the most advantageous matrimonial establishment that could be among the apparent possibilities of any one most dear to him, and disdaining even as a littleness the being quick-sighted on such points, he could not avoid perceiving, in a grand and careless way, that Mr. Crawford was somewhat distinguishing his niece—nor perhaps refrain (though unconsciously) from giving a more willing assent to invitations on that account.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

For other men, new in the land, they felt nothing but disdain.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Let your compassion be moved, and do not disdain me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

“Shoot with them, quotha?” cried Aylward in high disdain, for pressing danger is the great leveller of classes.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

One perplexity, however, arose, which the gentlemen did not disdain.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)