disdainful
adjective
Synonyms
- abhorrent
- contemptuous
- scornful
Example Sentences
Daniel Rasmussen, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 Though the reader knows better, the young narrator is marvelously secure in his superiority as a bona fide antiracist, and marvelously disdainful of his bona fide racist parents. New York Times, 12 July 2022 My mother whips her head around and casts me a disdainful look. Yuxi Lin, Longreads, 25 Mar. 2019 Twitter is advancing this position so that a disdainful hypocrite will be forced to buy it. Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 13 July 2022 When Howie falls for Charlie (James Scully), the cute doctor comes as a package deal with the disdainful Cooper (Nick Adams) and aloof Will (Conrad Ricamora), who strikes an instant love-hate sizzle with Noah. Justin J Wee, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2022 Thanks to redistricting Axne’s district saw an influx of more than 5,000 Republican voters, mostly rural, that are likely to be disdainful of her voting record and relationship with Biden. Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 8 June 2022 After Eskic’s post, Alessandro Rigolon, an assistant U. professor of city and metropolitan planning, noted that the roster of Yalecrest panelists did not include any planners — which Hemming said in her complaints was mocking and disdainful. The Salt Lake Tribune, 10 June 2022 Scenes between Mitchell and the disdainful Admiral Simpson (Jon Hamm) are culturally enlightening — boyish Cruise is a star; five-o’clock-shadow Hamm, from Mad Men, is TV trite. Armond White, National Review, 27 May 2022 See More Word History
see disdain entry 2
circa 1542, in the meaning defined above
disdainful
adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- contemptuous
- scornful
- arrogant
- abhorrent
- cruel
- malicious
- cavalier
- fresh
- hateful
- impudent
- disrespectful
- insolent
- supercilious
- snobbish
- discourteous
- haughty
- brazen
- impertinent
- pretentious
- cheeky
- cocky
- nasty
- saucy
- sassy
- uppity
- spiteful
- brash
- brassy
- prideful
- superior
- pompous
- uppish
- high-handed
- highfalutin
- malevolent
- lofty
- bold-faced
- self-important
- malignant
- lordly
- mean
- malign
- hifalutin
- despiteful
- catty
- sniffish
- high-hat
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- appreciative
- deferential
- respectful
- admiring
- tolerant
- polite
- courteous
- approving
- applauding
- accepting
- regardful
Synonyms & Similar Words
- arrogant
- proud
- haughty
- smug
- cavalier
- prideful
- superior
- selfish
- domineering
- supercilious
- snobbish
- conceited
- highfalutin
- lofty
- sniffy
- condescending
- vainglorious
- uppity
- pretentious
- hifalutin
- patronizing
- lordly
- confident
- important
- complacent
- egotistic
- impudent
- dominating
- pompous
- self-satisfied
- egoistic
- self-important
- swaggering
- egotistical
- overbearing
- self-conceited
- vain
- boastful
- presumptuous
- self-contented
- cocky
- overconfident
- cheeky
- stuck-up
- peremptory
- impertinent
- bombastic
- saucy
- imperious
- egocentric
- self-assertive
- overweening
- brassy
- audacious
- bossy
- cocksure
- brash
- bloated
- high-handed
- presuming
- self-assured
- self-glorifying
- masterful
- bold
- self-confident
- high-sounding
- self-centered
- presuming
- forward
- sure
- magisterial
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- humble
- modest
- lowly
- timid
- meek
- unpretentious
- unassuming
- bashful
- homely
- shy
- demure
- diffident
- unpretending
- deferential
- unassertive
- acquiescent
- apologetic
- ingratiating
- retiring
- passive
- submissive
- compliant
- resigned
- subdued
- quiet
- unobtrusive
- shrinking
- yielding
- self-doubting
- reserved
- cringing
- cowering
Synonyms & Similar Words
- slighting
- contemptuous
- scornful
- insulting
- disparaging
- deprecatory
- malicious
- uncomplimentary
- demeaning
- depreciative
- depreciatory
- derogatory
- belittling
- detractive
- pejorative
- degrading
- abusive
- critical
- derisory
- derogative
- hateful
- denigratory
- decrying
- venomous
- nasty
- cruel
- denigrative
- spiteful
- libelous
- unkind
- despiteful
- scurrilous
- slanderous
- malevolent
- jealous
- envious
- opprobrious
- virulent
- calumnious
- resentful
- malignant
- slandering
- defamatory
- libellous
- bitter
- maligning
- vilifying
- denunciatory
- malign
- aspersing
- mean
- caustic
- catty
- scathing
- acrimonious
- jaundiced
- acrid
- rancorous
- denunciative
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- laudatory
- commendatory
- complimentary
- friendly
- appreciative
- positive
- sympathetic
- adulatory
- admiring
- respectful
- approving
- laudative
- kind
- applauding
- kindly
- warm
- kindhearted
- warmhearted
- unmalicious
Synonym Chooser
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.
The synonyms arrogant and disdainful are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.
While in some cases nearly identical to disdainful, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.
Although the words insolent and disdainful have much in common, insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.
The words lordly and disdainful can be used in similar contexts, but lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.
The meanings of overbearing and disdainful largely overlap; however, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.
In some situations, the words proud and disdainful are roughly equivalent. However, proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.
The words supercilious and disdainful are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.