1
as in contemptuous
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern
a disdainful attitude toward people who work as waiters and waitresses
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proud
having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself
disdainful of manual labor of any kind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value
disdainful remarks regarding the cheap clothes that the local people were wearing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disdainful
Just days before the Nov. 5 general election, at a time when both campaigns are fighting for voters’ attention, Biden’s remark has given the Trump campaign fodder to portray Biden and the Democrats as divisive or disdainful of Trump’s base of supporters.
—
Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
Piketty’s inattention to that problem comes across as deliberate and almost disdainful.
—Arvind Subramanian, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020
Sure, this is all meaningful information to most Star Wars fans, who know the Sith as the primary anti-Jedi order, disdainful of the Jedi rules about how and why to use the Force.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 June 2024
Greer’s disdainful, stuck-up lines ooze out of Kidman’s mouth.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024
Piketty’s inattention to that problem comes across as deliberate and almost disdainful.
—Arvind Subramanian, Foreign Affairs, 9 June 2020
Sure, this is all meaningful information to most Star Wars fans, who know the Sith as the primary anti-Jedi order, disdainful of the Jedi rules about how and why to use the Force.
—Noel Murray, Vulture, 26 June 2024
Greer’s disdainful, stuck-up lines ooze out of Kidman’s mouth.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disdainful
Adjective
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The president was also profoundly contemptuous of women, kept his true opposition to female suffrage carefully hidden, and allowed the suffragists who silently held banners outside the White House to be repeatedly attacked by mobs, beaten, and jailed.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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The arguments Republicans have made in their opposition to Joe Biden’s contemptuous pardons are pretty compelling.—
Noah Rothman,
National Review,
21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In part because of Dell Curry on the mic breaking down the action, jockeying between proud dad and TV analyst from his perch alongside play-by-play man Eric Collins up in Section 105.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Mar. 2025
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Saldana also highlighted this in her acceptance speech by sharing how being in a Spanish-speaking role would have made her grandmother proud.—
Topsie VandenBosch,
Forbes,
4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This is the trapped subject, the voice crying out in the wilderness, seeking a response from the Everything but getting only the scornful bounce-back of itself.—
James Parker,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
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With the scornful wave spreading across social media, Marvel waded in to stem the tide.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The actor has one daughter with ex-wife Melanie Griffith and has been dating his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel since 2014. 05 of 09 John Lithgow as Lord Farquaad The actor behind the arrogant Lord Farquaad boasts an impressive career that began decades before Shrek came out in 2001.—
Zoey Lyttle,
People.com,
1 Mar. 2025
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Many members of its board appeared arrogant in the face of questions from the prosecutor or one of the lawyers.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even more difficult in the day-to-day is Donald Trump’s relentless and insulting commentary.—
Ken Dryden,
The Atlantic,
23 Feb. 2025
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The incredibly insulting idea of canceling the name of the prolific U.S. Rep. Henry Hyde was bad enough.—
Naperville Sun,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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After cutting ties with Kanye West following the rapper’s abhorrent antisemitic comments in October 2022, Adidas has finally offloaded the last of its Yeezy stock.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
5 Mar. 2025
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During the exchange, Hamas paraded the coffins and displayed propaganda in a move the UN called abhorrent.—
Chris Kenning,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Though Saturday Night excoriates Chase as a haughty frat-adjacent character and the actor’s reputation as being difficult to work with precedes him, an early writer paints a more humble picture.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2025
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Looking a little debauched in her fur coat, her Clytemnestra is weary, wary of what her daughter intends, but also wonderfully haughty.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Now, Microsoft has identified a resurfaced malware that has returned after years, equipped with new malicious capabilities, including stealing sensitive information such as digital wallets and data from the legitimate Notes app.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
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As the technology behind deepfakes advances, the need to fight their malicious usage has never been greater.—
Rohan Pinto,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disdainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdainful. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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