Synonyms of disdainful

disdainful

adjective

dis-ˈdān-fəl 

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

• contemptuous
• scornful
• arrogant
• abhorrent
• malicious
• cruel
• fresh
• cavalier
• hateful
• impudent
• disrespectful
• insolent
• discourteous
• brazen
• supercilious
• impertinent
• haughty
• cocky
• snobbish
• cheeky
• pretentious
• nasty
• sassy
• saucy
• brassy
• superior
• uppity
• brash
• spiteful
• prideful
• pompous
• lofty
• high-handed
• highfalutin
• malevolent
• bold-faced
• malignant
• high-hat
• uppish
• lordly
• mean
• malign
• self-important
• catty
• despiteful
• sniffish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appreciative
• respectful
• deferential
• admiring
• accepting
• tolerant
• approving
• applauding
• polite
• courteous
• regardful

2

as in proud

having or displaying feelings of scorn for what is regarded as beneath oneself

disdainful of manual labor of any kind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• proud
• arrogant
• smug
• haughty
• cavalier
• superior
• prideful
• selfish
• domineering
• supercilious
• snobbish
• lofty
• lordly
• highfalutin
• conceited
• confident
• important
• vainglorious
• uppity
• pretentious
• dominating
• complacent
• condescending
• patronizing
• egotistic
• egoistic
• impudent
• vain
• sniffy
• overbearing
• pompous
• self-important
• self-satisfied
• swaggering
• boastful
• cocky
• overconfident
• self-conceited
• self-contented
• presumptuous
• bombastic
• cheeky
• peremptory
• stuck-up
• high-sounding
• saucy
• impertinent
• egocentric
• self-assertive
• brassy
• overweening
• bloated
• imperious
• audacious
• bossy
• cocksure
• brash
• masterful
• self-assured
• bold
• high-handed
• self-confident
• self-glorifying
• magisterial
• sure
• self-centered
• forward
• presuming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• humble
• modest
• lowly
• timid
• meek
• unassuming
• unpretentious
• homely
• bashful
• shy
• demure
• unpretending
• diffident
• deferential
• retiring
• submissive
• passive
• acquiescent
• apologetic
• ingratiating
• compliant
• unassertive
• resigned
• quiet
• yielding
• shrinking
• subdued
• unobtrusive
• self-doubting
• reserved
• cringing
• cowering

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slighting
• insulting
• contemptuous
• scornful
• malicious
• disparaging
• deprecatory
• demeaning
• uncomplimentary
• derogatory
• critical
• pejorative
• abusive
• degrading
• depreciatory
• derisory
• hateful
• venomous
• depreciative
• detractive
• derogative
• denigratory
• belittling
• nasty
• libelous
• cruel
• denigrative
• decrying
• spiteful
• unkind
• slanderous
• scurrilous
• malevolent
• virulent
• calumnious
• jealous
• defamatory
• malignant
• opprobrious
• envious
• despiteful
• resentful
• bitter
• malign
• mean
• denunciatory
• caustic
• catty
• acrimonious
• scathing
• jaundiced
• slandering
• vilifying
• aspersing
• rancorous
• acrid
• maligning
• denunciative

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• laudatory
• complimentary
• commendatory
• positive
• friendly
• adulatory
• appreciative
• admiring
• respectful
• approving
• sympathetic
• laudative
• kind
• warm
• kindly
• applauding
• kindhearted
• warmhearted
• unmalicious

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

Recent Examples of disdainful

The girl's disdainful parents, unimpressed with her intelligence and independent spirit, decide to send her to Crunchem Hall, where the ruthless headmistress (Emma Thompson) specializes in bringing troublemaking tykes into line. —Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Feb. 2026

Yet whenever Bunny turns away from Frank to take a call from one of his underlings about the day-to-day violence and ugliness of their industry, a somewhat disdainful look passes across Frank’s face. —Noel Murray, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025

Godchaux was a divisive figure among Grateful Dead devotees — many fans were frankly outright disdainful of her presence on stage. —Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 3 Nov. 2025

Many documentarians are disdainful of such performances, and Burns avoided working with them on The Civil War. —Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 23 Oct. 2025