SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
disdainful
adjective
Showing a belief that someone or something is unworthy of respect.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Showing contempt
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topHaughty emphasizes superiority; disdainful emphasizes regarding the target as unworthy.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See disdainful in use
A disdainful response discouraged the new member from speaking again.
During the discussion, Victor gave a condescending smile and told the new volunteer that someday she would understand how serious clubs operate. His disdainful response treated her proposal as beneath consideration before he had examined it.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license