YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

disdain

Noun

IPA /dɪsˈdeɪn/

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Meaning in plain English

A feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or attention.

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Pronunciation

disdain/dɪsˈdeɪn/

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Someone makes a suggestion
The listener treats it as beneath them

Disdain shows a feeling that something does not deserve attention or respect.

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She looked with disdain at the suggestion that she should cheat.
His disdain for basic safety checks worried the rest of the team.

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She looked with ________ at the suggestion that she should cheat.

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disdain — A feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or attention.

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A feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or attention.

Compare: She looked with disdain at the suggestion that she should cheat.

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Word origin

From Old French desdeign, ultimately related to Latin dignus, meaning worthy.

Did you know?

Disdain can also be a verb, but this entry uses the noun.

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