disdain
gb/dɪsdˈeɪn/ us/dɪsdˈeɪn/
C1
English
~ 26900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
state
1
strong dislike mixed with no respect
A strong feeling that someone or something is not good enough to deserve respect or attention.
Usage pattern:
disdain for [someone/something]
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'.
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.)
Collocations
with disdain
|a look of disdain
|treat [someone] with disdain
|disdain for [something]
|open disdain
Themes
emotions
|social
|attitude
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She spoke of the corrupt officials with open disdain.
- He looked at the cheap imitation with thinly veiled disdain.
- 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.
- He looked at my old phone with clear disdain.
- 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.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
to regard with contempt or scorn
To strongly dislike and not respect someone or something because you think they are not good enough for you.
Usage pattern:
to disdain [someone/something]
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'.
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.)
Collocations
disdain authority
|openly disdain [something]
|disdain [someone's] help
|disdain [traditional] values
|disdain criticism
Themes
emotions
|social
|attitude
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- 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.
Verb
literary
C2
action
3
to refuse as beneath one’s dignity
To not do something because you feel it is too low or not good enough for you.
Usage pattern:
[someone] disdains to do [something]
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]'.
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.)
Collocations
disdain to answer
|disdain to reply
|disdain to comment
|disdain to explain
Themes
emotions
|social
|attitude
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The celebrity disdained to answer questions about her private life.
- He disdained to shake hands with the man he considered his rival.
- They disdained to comment on rumors they saw as beneath serious attention.
Learner examples
- She disdains to talk about money.
- He disdains to answer such simple questions.
- The king disdained to meet the small group of visitors.
- The artist disdains to paint cheap posters.
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.