ENGLISH
REFERENCE

disdain

n. uncountable
C1 Advanced US //dɪsˈdeɪn// UK //dɪsdˈeɪn// dis·dain Archaic

n. the feeling that someone or something does not deserve your respect. You feel this when you think something is low-quality or not worth your time.

n. a feeling of contempt or lack of respect for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior.


SIMPLE

She looked at the messy room with disdain.

CONTEXTUAL

The experienced chef treated the frozen ingredients with visible disdain, insisting on fresh produce for every dish.

COMPLEX

His open disdain for the local customs made it difficult for him to build the trust necessary for a successful diplomatic mission.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English disdeynen, from Old French desdeignier (modern French dédaigner).

Usage

Often paired with the preposition 'for' ('disdain for something').

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