noun
disdain
dihs-DAYN
noun
1
A feeling of contempt or scorn toward someone or something seen as beneath you.
"He looked at the offer with obvious disdain."
"Her disdain for gossip was well known at the office."
verb
1
To treat someone or something with scorn, as not worth your attention.
"She disdained to answer such a rude question."
How to Use Disdain
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLooking down on someone or something as unworthy of respect.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with the archaic spelling "distain" (to stain or discolor) — modern English only uses "disdain" for scorn.
Easily confused with
distain
Common pairings
treat with disdain
disdain for
look on with disdain
Word Forms
disdained past tense, disdains singular
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He looked at the offer with obvious _____.
Etymology
From Old French desdeignier, ultimately from Latin dignus ("worthy") with a negating prefix — literally "to consider unworthy."