Scorn

Pronunciation

• IPA: /skɔː(r)n/
• Rhymes: -ɔː(r)n

Origin

Alteration of Old French escarn (cognate with Portuguese escárnio, Spanish escarnio and Italian scherno).

Full definition of scorn

Verb

1. (transitive) To feel or display contempt or disdain for something or somebody; to despise.
• C. J. SmithWe scorn what is in itself contemptible or disgraceful.
2. (intransitive) To scoff, express contempt.
3. (transitive) To reject, turn downHe scorned her romantic advances.
4. (transitive) To refuse to do something, as beneath oneself.She scorned to show weakness.

Synonyms

Noun

1. (uncountable) Contempt or disdain.
2. (countable) A display of disdain; a slight.
• DrydenEvery sullen frown and bitter scorn
  But fanned the fuel that too fast did burn.
3. (countable) An object of disdain, contempt, or derision.
• Bible, Psalms xliv. 13Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

Usage notes

Scorn is often used in the phrases pour scorn on and heap scorn on.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• scornful

Anagrams

• corns