disdainful

adjective

dis·​dain·​ful dis-ˈdān-fəl 

: full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior : full of or expressing scorn or disdain

a disdainful glare

is disdainful of all modern art

disdainfully

dis-ˈdān-fə-lē 

adverb

disdainfulness noun

Synonyms

• abhorrent
• contemptuous
• scornful

Choose the Right Synonym for disdainful

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors.

proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

Examples of disdainful in a Sentence

He looked at the waiter with a disdainful glare.

a disdainful attitude toward authority

Recent Examples on the Web

From above, the figurines almost appear to be grinning, but the face looks disdainful when viewed head-on. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2025

Lingering at the edge of the group was Suzie, a petite woman with wild, white-blond hair as well as the spry yet disdainful affect of an inner-city nun. —Kent Russell, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025

John Magaro is terrific as Jarrett, a once-in-a-generation talent who was sleep-deprived, suffering from acute back pain and disdainful of the inferior instrument on which he was expected to perform. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025

President-Elect Donald Trump is openly disdainful of many governments in Europe and seems willing to walk away from America’s role as the continent’s protector. —Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see disdain entry 2

First Known Use

circa 1542, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for disdainful

• gainful
• painful

Kids Definition

disdainful

adjective

dis·​dain·​ful dis-ˈdān-fəl 

: full of or expressing disdain

disdainfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

disdainfulness noun