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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective disdainful differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of disdainful are arrogant, haughty, insolent, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When might arrogant be a better fit than disdainful?

The synonyms arrogant and disdainful are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

Where would haughty be a reasonable alternative to disdainful?

While in some cases nearly identical to disdainful, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

In what contexts can insolent take the place of disdainful?

Although the words insolent and disdainful have much in common, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When can lordly be used instead of disdainful?

The words lordly and disdainful can be used in similar contexts, but lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

When could overbearing be used to replace disdainful?

The meanings of overbearing and disdainful largely overlap; however, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

When would proud be a good substitute for disdainful?

In some situations, the words proud and disdainful are roughly equivalent. However, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When is supercilious a more appropriate choice than disdainful?

The words supercilious and disdainful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disdainful Now, the norms for AI will emerge in a political and cultural environment that's hostile to regulation and disdainful of limits. Scott Rosenberg, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025 By and large, though, in Lyman’s view, conservatives were the new gonzo journalists, the ones sending back authentic reports from high-drama situations, disdainful of institutions and politically correct messaging. Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024 The Falcons were equally disdainful of Ridder with Monday night’s game plan. Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 17 Dec. 2024 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 See All Example Sentences for disdainful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disdainful
Adjective
  • According to an ancient Greek myth, all those who had fallen in love with the young man Narcissus were met with contemptuous rejection.
    Abigayle Ward, Hartford Courant, 8 Mar. 2025
  • 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
Adjective
  • Mizrahi - What was the proudest moment of your career?
    Isaac Mizrahi, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Was proud of winning the school’s first district championship in 20 years.
    Gary Curreri, Sun Sentinel, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Meghan Markle's Netflix Backlash Meghan's Netflix show earned scornful reviews not only in the British press, long the villains of Meghan and Prince Harry's narrative, but also among U.S. outlets that previously provided glowing coverage.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025
  • The Nosotros people had returned Borja’s bribe money to him with no comment, only scornful silence, but the sting of the snub had not gone very deep.
    Charles Portis, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • In a world where deal flow is crucial, being labeled as an arrogant VC results in missing out on prime opportunities.
    David Nour, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The arrogant anti-union stance did not start with the current CEO; even the legendary Studs Terkel was slapped down by WFMT management for his earlier support of an effort to unionize in 1990.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Formula One's governing body, the FIA, has categorized certain actions and behaviors as 'misconduct,' which include insulting or inappropriate language and gestures.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Meghan’s infamous mock curtsy, which was seen as insulting… was [a] low point.
    Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Ever since Kanye West went on an abhorrent antisemitic tirade in fall 2022 — which cost him his billionaire status and lucrative partnerships with Adidas and Gap — the Grammy winner has been fighting off an ever-growing list of lawsuits.
    Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Their actions were abhorrent and horrifying—and their apathy was obvious.
    Ross Overline, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In life, she was often cast aside by her horrendous husband and, in death, her haughty personality often gets in the way of forming deep connections.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2025
  • In character as a free spirit who scorns social convention, Davis is all haughty tosses of the head and sneering lines.
    EW Staff, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The best way to safeguard against malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • These methods can easily miss deeper behavioral indicators that would signal a malicious payload lurking beneath the surface.
    Alex Vakulov, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Disdainful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disdainful. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.

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