scornful

adjective

ˈskȯrn-fəl How to pronounce scornful (audio)
Definition of scornfulnext
1
as in contemptuous
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern the actress gave the paparazzi a scornful glare before breezing on by them

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value the tenant's complaints were met with the scornful observation that he expected too much for the rent he was paying

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of scornful Atletico did not believe this was a serious attempt to sign the player, and reacted with more angry and scornful social media posts. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 23 June 2026 And with a scornful undercurrent at the fact that Charli apparently stole Johannes out from under her. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2026 Many who lived through the pandemic—and witnessed this inability to combat the lethal pestilence—developed scornful opinions of the medical profession. — Literary Hub, 27 May 2026 During the decade since Hitler took power, women married to Jewish men defied scornful social, economic and political pressure, day after day. — Danielle Wirsansky, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scornful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for scornful
  1. contemptuous
  2. insulting
  3. disdainful
  4. malicious
  5. arrogant
  6. deprecatory
  7. cruel
  8. disparaging
Adjective
  • The man didn’t catch Serena’s contemptuous expression, however, too busy peeling bills from a money clip and pressing them into his date’s hand.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • The fantasy of transforming a cold or contemptuous man through the sheer force of one’s love has caused real harm, and the critique of it is warranted.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026
Definition of contemptuous
Adjective
  • Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026
  • What Florence has been doing is consistent and insulting.
    — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Definition of insulting
Adjective
  • Amusingly enough, someone who was neither perplexed nor disdainful was a young cast member by the name of Stephen Colbert.
    — Kelly Leonard, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • His whole behavior toward women is so disdainful.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 June 2026
Definition of disdainful
Adjective
  • According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 37-year-old Adam Mazur-Baker was arraigned Tuesday on one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of malicious use of telecommunications services.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • This command executes malicious code inside the AppleScript directly.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • West Germany, arrogant attitude adjusted, pounded Chile, 4-1.
    — David j. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026
  • Lasso, in his initial introduction to audiences, wasn’t the warm, pun-loving, inspirational coach audiences would eventually embrace through Apple +, but a slightly arrogant buffoon parodying the average American sports fan.
    — Charles Moss, New York Times, 24 June 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • This subsided with unusual speed, however, as cricket fans took instead to sharing the self-deprecatory jokes coming over the border.
    — The Economist, The Economist, 22 June 2019
  • Philipps has acquired her 1-million-and-growing Instagram followers through her self-deprecatory humor, raw honesty and vulnerability.
    — Sonja Haller, USA TODAY, 11 July 2018
Definition of deprecatory
Adjective
  • The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
    — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of disparaging

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Cite this Entry

“Scornful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/scornful. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of scornful for Spanish Speakers

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