scorn
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
idioms
noun
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open contempt or disdain for a person or thing; derision
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an object of contempt or derision
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archaic an act or expression signifying contempt
verb
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to treat with contempt or derision
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(tr) to reject with contempt
Synonym Usage
See contempt.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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scorninglyadverb
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self-scornnoun
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scornernoun
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scornfullyadverb
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outscornverb (used with object)
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scornfuladjective
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scornfulnessnoun
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have scornedperfect
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has scornedperfect 3rd person singular
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am scorningprogressive 1st person singular
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is scorningprogressive 3rd person singular
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scorningparticiple
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have been scorningperfect progressive
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are scorningprogressive
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has been scorningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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scornssingular 3rd person
Past
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had scornedperfect
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scornedparticiple
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were scorningprogressive plural
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scornedsimple
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had been scorningperfect progressive
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was scorningprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of scorn
First recorded in 1150–1200; (noun) Middle English scorn, scarn, from Old French escarn, from Germanic (compare obsolete Dutch schern “mockery, trickery”); (verb) Middle English skarnen, sc(h)ornen, from Old French escharnir, eschernir, ultimately from Germanic
Explanation
Scorn is open disrespect for someone or something. It can also be disrespect coupled with feelings of intense dislike. The noun scorn describes your feelings of disdain when you encounter something you view as worthless or inferior — like, for instance, a talk show that gets all its facts wrong. Use the verb form for those times when you’re actively expressing scorn. You might scorn a politician who spends $100,000 on travel while claiming to work hard promoting middle-class values.
Vocabulary lists containing scorn
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Declaration of the Rights of Woman (1791)
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List 7
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Or maybe Becerra was, indeed, a feckless, flailing and thoroughly awful Cabinet member, deserving of scorn and shame.
From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026
Someone who has no retirement savings in middle age can, unfortunately, receive the same amount of scorn as a well-heeled retiree who has $10 million in middle age.
From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026
Rather than endure the shame of public scorn — which would still make no material difference to their levels of power— the justices would rather hide their views.
From Salon • Apr. 22, 2026
Rosenior drew widespread scorn when he said Chelsea's players performed a pre-match huddle before the game against Newcastle United, farcically surrounding referee Paul Tierney in the process, to "respect the ball".
From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026
Nevertheless, the bear had taken the measure of the task, and in the certainty of his movements the little spies began to see some quality that muffled their scorn.
From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
