Meaning & use
scornful
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Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Showing that you think someone or something is stupid, weak or not worth respect.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a verb, often with of: a scornful laugh; scornful of fashion.
Patterns
- scornful of someone/something
- a scornful look
- scornful about something
She gave a scornful laugh when he suggested the plan.
He was scornful of anyone who asked for help.
The critic's review was scornful and unfair.
Word forms
| comparative | more scornful |
|---|---|
| superlative | most scornful |
Common combinations
- scornful of
- The coach was scornful of excuses.
- scornful laugh
- A scornful laugh came from the back.
- scornful look
- He gave her a scornful look.
- scornful tone
- Her scornful tone hurt him.
- openly scornful
- The audience was openly scornful.
Synonyms and how they differ
- contemptuous
- Slightly more formal and stresses complete lack of respect.
- disdainful
- Suggests a proud, superior attitude rather than anger.
- sneering
- Describes the expression or tone itself, more informal and more obviously unpleasant.
Opposites
Word family
- scorn noun
- strong contempt
- scornfully adverb
- in a way that shows contempt
- scorn verb
- to treat as unworthy
Commonly confused: scornful or scorned?
scornful vs scorned
Scorned describes someone who has been treated with contempt; scornful describes the person who shows contempt.
Practice
He was ___ his brother's cooking, rolling his eyes at every dish.
Choose one answer.
Scornful takes of before its object. Scornful about is occasionally heard but is less standard; for and at do not fit.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “scornful”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.