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Meaning & use

scorn

noun, verb·Advanced

Last updated

UK/skɔːn/
US/skɔːrn/

Meanings

  1. noununcountable

    A strong feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.

    Grammar: Uncountable: you say 'scorn', not 'a scorn' or 'scorns'.

    Patterns

    • scorn for someone
    • with scorn
    • pour scorn on someone

    She looked at him with scorn.

    His scorn for the proposal was obvious.

    The critics poured scorn on the new film.

  2. verbtransitive

    To treat someone or something as if they are worthless and deserve no respect.

    Grammar: Takes an object: scorn someone, scorn something.

    Patterns

    • scorn someone
    • scorn something
    • scorn someone for something

    He scorned her apology and walked away.

    They scorned the idea as impractical.

    She was scorned by her colleagues for speaking out.

  3. verbtransitive

    To refuse or reject something because you think it is not good enough.

    Grammar: Takes an object: scorn an offer, scorn a gift.

    Patterns

    • scorn an offer
    • scorn a gift
    • scorn help

    She scorned his offer of help.

    He scorned the chance to work abroad.

    They scorned the traditional methods and tried something new.

Word forms

third person singularscorns
past tensescorned
past participlescorned
-ing formscorning

Common combinations

pour scorn on
The newspapers poured scorn on the government's plan.
with scorn
She rejected the idea with scorn.
scorn for
His scorn for authority got him into trouble.
heap scorn on
Critics heaped scorn on the new policy.

Synonyms and how they differ

contempt
A formal word for a strong feeling that someone is inferior; often used in legal or formal contexts.
disdain
A feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect; often suggests a sense of superiority.
derision
Mockery or ridicule; scorn can be more silent and cold, while derision is often expressed openly.

Opposites

respectadmiration

Word family

scornful adjective
Showing scorn; feeling or expressing contempt.
scornfully adverb
In a way that shows scorn.

Commonly confused: scorn or score?

scorn vs score

A number of points in a game; not related to scorn.

Practice

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