disdainful

UK: /dɪsˈdeɪnfʊl/ US: (dis dān′fəl, di stān′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•dain•ful  (dis dān′fəl, di stān′-), adj. 

1. full of or showing disdain;
   scornful.

• disdain + -ful 1535–45

dis•dain′ful•ly, adv. 
dis•dain′ful•ness, n. 
Synonyms

contemptuous, haughty, contumelious.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disdainful / dɪsˈdeɪnfʊl/ adjective

1. showing or feeling disdain

disˈdainfully adverb

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•dain /dɪsˈdeɪn, dɪˈsteɪn/   v. [not: be + ~-ing]

1. [ ~ + obj] to look upon or treat with contempt;
   despise;
   scorn:
   He disdained all my offers of help.
2. to think unworthy of notice;
   consider beneath oneself: [~ + to + verb]
   She disdained to answer.
   [~ + verb-ing]
   She disdained replying to the insults.

n. [uncountable]

3. a feeling of contempt for anything unworthy;
   scorn:
   a look of disdain on her face.

dis•dain•ful, adj. 
Synonyms

See contempt.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•dain  (dis dān′, di stān′), v.t. 

1. to look upon or treat with contempt;
   despise;
   scorn.
2. to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.;
   consider beneath oneself:
   to disdain replying to an insult.

n. 

3. a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy;
   haughty contempt;
   scorn.

• Anglo-French desdai(g)n, derivative of the verb
• Anglo-French de(s)deigner (see dis-¹, deign); (noun, nominal) Middle English disdeyn
• (verb, verbal) Middle English disdainen 1300–50

Synonyms

• 1. contemn, spurn.
• 3. haughtiness, arrogance. See contempt. 

Antonyms

• 1. accept.
• 3. admiration.