Disdain
/dɪsˈdeɪn/
nounverbB2
Definition
Disdain is when you feel or show that you think someone or something is not worthy of your respect or attention. It is a stronger and more negative feeling than just dislike; it often means you look down on the person or thing. You can feel disdain quietly inside or show it openly by your words or actions.
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⚡ See It in Action
Noun: The feeling of strong dislike and disrespect
- •She looked at the messy room with disdain.
- •His disdain for rude people was clear in his words.
- •The manager showed disdain toward employees who were late.
Verb: To feel or show strong dislike and disrespect
- •He disdained the idea of working for someone else.
- •They disdained the new policy as unfair.
- •She disdained any help, wanting to do everything herself.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "disdain" like "not like" or "don't respect," but much stronger and more serious—it means you think something is beneath you.
- ✓Picture someone looking down their nose at another person, as if they are too good to be near them.
- ✓It's the feeling when you see something you think is very bad or useless, and you want nothing to do with it.
- ✓Sounds like "dis-DAYN" → imagine someone saying "day-n" as a short, sharp sound of rejection or refusal.
- ✓Think of a queen or king in stories who looks at a common person with cold dislike and shows they think they are better.
- ✓NOT like "dislike" (which can be mild), disdain is stronger and more about feeling something is unworthy or low.
- ✓NOT like "ignore" (which means not paying attention), disdain means you see it but do not respect it.
- ✓NOT like "hate" (which is strong anger), disdain is more about looking down and feeling something is beneath you.
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Scorn: strong dislike and disrespect (Use when the feeling is very strong and often shown openly)
- •Contempt: feeling that something is worthless (Use when you want to emphasize feeling something has no value)
- •Disrespect: lack of respect (Use when focusing on behavior rather than feeling)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: prefix "dis-" (not, opposite) + root "dain" (from Latin "dignus" meaning worthy)
- •Etymology: From Latin "dis-" + "dignari" meaning to regard as worthy or not worthy
- •Historical development: Originally meant to think something is unworthy or beneath respect, used in English since the 1400s
- •Modern usage: Used to describe strong feelings or actions showing that someone or something is not respected or is looked down upon
- •Key insight: The word connects to the idea of worth or value, and "dis-" means to remove that worth in your eyes
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can you think of a time when you felt disdain for something or someone? What made you feel that way?
•How is disdain different from simple dislike or anger in how people show their feelings?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.She felt disdain ___ people who lied to their friends and family.
2.When he disdained the suggestion, it showed he thought it was ___.
3.Disdain is stronger than dislike because it includes a feeling of ___.
4.The teacher's disdain ___ the students who did not do their homework.
5.People often disdain things they believe are ___ or unimportant.
6.To disdain someone means to see them as ___ your respect or attention.
7.He disdained ___ any help because he wanted to prove he could do it alone.