Word of the day: Scorn

1scorn

noun \ˈskȯrn\

: a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval

: harsh criticism that shows a lack of respect or approval for someone or something

Full Definition of SCORN

1:  open dislike and disrespect or derision often mixed with indignation
2:  an expression of contempt or derision
3:  an object of extreme disdain, contempt, or derision :  something contemptible

Examples of SCORN

  1. They treated his suggestion with scorn.
  2. an expression full of scorn
  3. Her political rivals have poured scorn on her ideas for improving the tax system.
  4. Unlike government censorship, this corruption eats at one of China’s more beleaguered professions from within its ranks. The trading of favors for cash is so prevalent that, like the honest cop in a corrupt police unit, an ethical journalist risks the scorn of colleagues. —Gady A. Epstein, Forbes, 21 July 2008
  5. He burns with generous indignation at the scorn with which many literary critics have treated Tolkien, and his subtitle, “author of the Century,” is meant to provoke. But provocation is only one of his purposes. —Richard Jenkyns, New Republic, 28 Jan. 2002
  6. Claiming their inalienable rights as teenagers, the two exercise an unmitigated scorn for all adults in the immediate vicinity … —B. Ruby Rich, Nation, 3 & 10 Sept. 2001

Origin of SCORN

Middle English, from Anglo-French escharne, escar, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German scern jest

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SCORN

Synonyms
contemptuousness, despisement, despite, despitefulness, disdain, misprision, contempt
Antonyms
admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect

2scorn

verb \ˈskȯrn\

: to show that you think (someone or something) is not worthy of respect or approval : to feel or express scorn for (someone or something)

: to refuse or reject (someone or something that you do not think is worthy of respect or approval)

Full Definition of SCORN

transitive verb

:  to treat with scorn (see 1scorn):  reject or dismiss as contemptible or unworthy <scorned local traditions> <scorned to reply to the charge>
intransitive verb
:  to show disdain or derision :  scoff
— scorn·er noun

Examples of SCORN

  1. He scorns anyone who earns less money than he does.
  2. Her actions were scorned by many people.
  3. They were scorned as fanatics.
  4. My parents scorned packaged and ready-made foods. It did not matter that, at the time, our hometown was a test-market capital for these sorts of food products; my father still thought that convenience food was a Communist plot, and my mother insisted that only trashy people failed to practice a separation of food groups. —Molly O’Neill, Vogue, January 2007
  5. A union member and activist since age 15, bound for an academic career at Cornell and NYU, Fitch, now past 65, writes like a lover scorned. —Rob Long, National Review, 13 Feb. 2006
  6. Stung by attacks on his new Excursion—a 12.5-m.p.g. guzzler dubbed “Ford Valdez” by critics—he has expressed fears that auto companies could be scorned like tobacco companies if they don’t clean up their act. Similarly, GM has sought to position itself as the greenest car company, beginning in 1996 when it launched the nation’s first modern, mass-produced electric car, the EV-1. —Margot Roosevelt, Time, 14 Aug. 2000

Origin of SCORN

(see 1scorn)

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SCORN

Synonyms
contemn, dis (also diss) [slang], disdain, disrespect, high-hat, look down (on or upon), slight, sniff (at), snoot, snub, look down one’s nose (at), sneeze at, thumb one’s nose (at), walk over
Antonyms
honor, respect
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scorn
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