disdain
gb/dɪsdˈeɪn/ us/dɪsdˈeɪn/
C1
English
~ 26900
megvetés, lenézés, megvet, lenéz, nem alacsonyodik le arra, hogy
NOUN
C1
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
disdain for [someone/something]
She spoke of the corrupt officials with open disdain.
Nyílt megvetéssel beszélt a korrupt tisztviselőkről.
He looked at the cheap imitation with thinly veiled disdain.
Alig leplezett lenézéssel nézett az olcsó utánzatra.
There is a growing disdain for traditional politics among young voters.
The professor’s open disdain for latecomers made everyone arrive early.
His curled lip showed his disdain for their suggestions.
Learner examples
She feels great disdain for dishonest people.
Nagy megvetést érez a becstelen emberek iránt.
He looked at my old phone with clear disdain.
Egyértelmű lenézéssel nézett a régi telefonomra.
Many workers have disdain for the new company rules.
The artist shows disdain for cheap copies of his work.
I could hear the disdain in her voice.
Common mistake:
Learners often use 'disdain' like the verb 'hate' in informal speech (e.g., 'I have disdain this movie'). 'Disdain' as a noun must be followed by 'for' or used after 'with' (e.g., 'my disdain for this movie', 'she looked with disdain'). It is also more formal than everyday words like 'hate' or 'don’t like'.
Meaning
strong dislike mixed with no respect
Collocations
with disdain
|a look of disdain
|treat [someone] with disdain
|disdain for [something]
|open disdain
Synonyms
contempt (Very close in meaning, but slightly more common and can sound a bit less cold or superior than 'disdain'.)
|
scorn (Suggests harsh, often more emotional disrespect, while 'disdain' can sound cooler and more detached.)
Antonyms
respect (Opposite because it means a positive feeling of approval and honor, not a sense that someone is beneath you.)
|
admiration (Opposite because it means warm approval and praise instead of cold rejection and superiority.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|attitude
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A strong feeling that someone or something is not good enough to deserve respect or attention.
A strong feeling of dislike for someone or something that you regard as unworthy, together with a lack of respect for them.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
to disdain [someone/something]
She disdains anyone who disagrees with her political views.
He openly disdained the offer, calling it an insult.
The critic disdained the film as shallow entertainment.
They disdained modern architecture, preferring old stone buildings.
He secretly admires the traditions he publicly disdains.
Learner examples
She disdains people who lie.
He disdains my ideas and never listens.
Many young people disdain these old rules.
The actor disdains cheap advertisements.
They pretend to disdain money, but they like it.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'disdain' like 'don’t like' in casual speech (e.g., 'I disdain this song'). While grammatically possible, it sounds very formal or dramatic; in everyday talk, 'don’t like' or 'hate' is more natural. Also, learners may say '*disdain on* something'; the verb usually takes a direct object without a preposition: 'She disdains luxury', not 'disdains on luxury'.
Meaning
to regard with contempt or scorn
Collocations
disdain authority
|openly disdain [something]
|disdain [someone's] help
|disdain [traditional] values
|disdain criticism
Synonyms
despise (Very close in meaning, but 'despise' often sounds more emotional, while 'disdain' suggests a colder sense of superiority.)
|
scorn (Emphasizes both dislike and mockery; 'disdain' can sound less openly mocking and more quietly superior.)
|
look down on (More informal and common; describes the same superior attitude without the formal tone of 'disdain'.)
Antonyms
value (Opposite because it means to see something as important and worthy, instead of seeing it as beneath you.)
|
appreciate (Opposite because it means to recognize and enjoy someone’s or something’s good qualities.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|attitude
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To strongly dislike and not respect someone or something because you think they are not good enough for you.
To feel and often show strong dislike and a lack of respect for someone or something that you consider not good enough or not worth your attention.
VERB
C2
LITERARY
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] disdains to do [something]
The celebrity disdained to answer questions about her private life.
A híresség nem alacsonyodott le arra, hogy válaszoljon a magánéletére vonatkozó kérdésekre.
He disdained to shake hands with the man he considered his rival.
Nem alacsonyodott le arra, hogy kezet fogjon azzal a férfival, akit a riválisának tartott.
They disdained to comment on rumors they saw as beneath serious attention.
Learner examples
She disdains to talk about money.
Nem alacsonyodik le arra, hogy a pénzről beszéljen.
He disdains to answer such simple questions.
Nem alacsonyodik le arra, hogy ilyen egyszerű kérdésekre válaszoljon.
The king disdained to meet the small group of visitors.
The artist disdains to paint cheap posters.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'disdain to do something' is formal or literary and sounds unnatural in casual speech; in everyday English, 'refuse to do', 'won’t do', or 'don’t want to do' are preferred. They may also mistakenly add a preposition, e.g., '*disdain to do about* something'; the pattern is simply 'disdain to do [something]'.
Meaning
to refuse as beneath one’s dignity
Collocations
disdain to answer
|disdain to reply
|disdain to comment
|disdain to explain
Synonyms
spurn (Also formal and literary; suggests rejecting something with strong dislike or pride, similar to 'disdain to do'.)
|
refuse (More general and neutral; lacks the idea that the task is beneath one's dignity.)
Antonyms
agree (Opposite because it means to say yes to doing something instead of proudly refusing it.)
|
condescend (In this context, opposite because it means actually doing something you consider beneath you, whereas 'disdain to' means not doing it at all.)
Themes
emotions
|social
|attitude
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To not do something because you feel it is too low or not good enough for you.
To refuse to do something because you think it is not suitable for you or is beneath your dignity.
Grammar
Dictionary form
disdain
IPA
GB/dɪsdˈeɪn/
US/dɪsdˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
dis - dain (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dain)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: disdain
- Plural: disdain
Verb
- Base: disdain
- 3rd Person Singular: disdains
- Present Participle: disdaining
- Past: disdained
Word family
Forms
disdains
verb
disdaining
verb
disdained
verb
Core family
disdainful
adjective C1
disdainfully
adverb
Expressions
a look of disdain
2/ə lˈʊk əv dɪsdˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
facial expression showing disdain
A face that clearly shows strong dislike and no respect.
Examples
- He gave me a look of disdain and walked away.
- The waiter shot a look of disdain at their messy table.
disdain to do something
6/dɪsdˈeɪn tə dˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
literary
refuse to do as beneath you
To not do something because you feel it is too low or not good enough for you.
Examples
- He disdained to answer such a trivial question.
- They disdained to take part in what they saw as a childish game.
hold someone in disdain
4/hˈoʊld sˈʌmwˌʌn ˈɪn dɪsdˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
regard someone with disdain
To think about someone with strong dislike and no respect.
Examples
- Many of his colleagues hold him in quiet disdain.
- She openly admitted that she held the dictator in utter disdain.
treat someone with disdain
3/tɹˈit sˈʌmwˌʌn wˈɪθ dɪsdˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
behave toward someone with disdain
To act toward a person in a way that shows you strongly dislike them and do not respect them.
Examples
- The manager treated the interns with disdain, never learning their names.
- She felt hurt because her in-laws treated her with open disdain.
view something with disdain
5/vjˈu sˈʌmθɪŋ wˈɪθ dɪsdˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
regard something with disdain
To think about something with strong dislike and no respect.
Examples
- Older professors often view social media with disdain.
- She views careless writing with particular disdain.
with disdain
1/wˈɪθ dɪsdˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
formal
in a way that shows disdain
In a way that clearly shows strong dislike and no respect.
Examples
- She glanced at his dirty shoes with disdain.
- He pushed the cheap gift aside with disdain.