Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn.
Source: tatoeba (278265)
Scorn
/skɔːn/
Synonyms for "scorn" (159 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (32)
abhorabominationairsarrogancebe abovebe contemptuous ofcare nothing forcensureclannishnesscliquishnessconfrontcontemncontemptcontemptuousnesscontumelydefydemeandeprecationderidederision
Strong matches (48)
Noun(5 words)
despitedisavowdisbelievedisdaindisdainfulnessdislikedismissaldisowndisparagedisparagementdisprizedisregarddump onexclusivenessfeel contempt forfeel superior tofloutfloutingfussgibing
Related words (79)
look down uponmake fun ofmisprizemockeryneglectpatronagepatronizepick and choosepoke fun atpooh-poohput downrank lowrebuffrejectrejectionrepudiateridiculesarcasmscoff atscoffing
Show 33 more words
scornfulnessscoutset at defianceset at naughtshunslightslight oversnapsneersneer atsneeringsneeze atsnickersniff atsniffinesssnobbishnesssnootinesssnortsnort atsnottinesssnubsovereign contemptspurnsuperciliousnesstaunttauntingthink nothing ofthumbtoploftinesstrampletreat with contempttrivializetwit
Noun(17 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: contempt, disdain, abhor, abomination, airs.
- Sentence evidence is available for scorn, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "scorn".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "scorn"
Keep "scorn" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "scorn" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "scorn", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "scorn" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
14 entriesMore specific
16 entriesCollocations
9 entriesearn scornexpress scornfall under scornmoral scornpublic scornscornful gazetone of scorntotal scornutter scorn
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
6 entriesTranslations
43 translations across 29 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- презрение noun (contempt, disdain)
Catalan
2 entries- desdeny noun (contempt, disdain)
- menyspreu noun (contempt, disdain)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 輕蔑 /轻蔑 noun (contempt, disdain)
Czech
1 entries- opovržení noun (contempt, disdain)
Dutch
2 entries- minachting noun (contempt, disdain)
- verachting noun (contempt, disdain)
Esperanto
1 entries- malestimo noun (contempt, disdain)
Finnish
2 entries- pilkka noun (contempt, disdain)
- ylenkatse noun (contempt, disdain)
French
2 entries- dédain noun (contempt, disdain)
- mépris noun (contempt, disdain)
German
1 entries- Verachtung noun (contempt, disdain)
Greek
1 entries- περιφρόνηση noun (contempt, disdain)
Hebrew
1 entries- שאט־נפש noun (contempt, disdain)
Hungarian
1 entries- megvetés noun (contempt, disdain)
Irish
2 entries- dímheas noun (contempt, disdain)
- tarcaisne noun (contempt, disdain)
Italian
1 entries- disprezzo noun (contempt, disdain)
Japanese
2 entries- 軽蔑 noun (contempt, disdain)
- 鄙薄 noun (contempt, disdain)
Korean
1 entries- 경멸 noun (contempt, disdain)
Latin
1 entries- contemptus noun (contempt, disdain)
Middle English
1 entries- scorn noun (contempt, disdain)
Persian
1 entries- حقارت noun (contempt, disdain)
Plautdietsch
1 entries- Spott noun (contempt, disdain)
Polish
2 entries- lekceważenie noun (contempt, disdain)
- pogarda noun (contempt, disdain)
Portuguese
3 entries- desdém noun (contempt, disdain)
- desprezo noun (contempt, disdain)
- escárnio noun (contempt, disdain)
Romanian
1 entries- dispreț noun (contempt, disdain)
Russian
1 entries- презре́ние noun (contempt, disdain)
Scots
1 entries- scorn noun (contempt, disdain)
Slovak
2 entries- opovrhnutie noun (contempt, disdain)
- pohŕdanie noun (contempt, disdain)
Spanish
4 entries- desdén noun (contempt, disdain)
- desprecio noun (contempt, disdain)
- escarnio noun (contempt, disdain)
- ludibrio noun (contempt, disdain)
Swedish
2 entries- förakt noun (contempt, disdain)
- hån noun (contempt, disdain)
Tocharian B
1 entries- maṣṣāt noun (contempt, disdain)
Sample sentences
20 total sentences available.
His face and attitude showed the scorn he felt.
Source: tatoeba (285815)
He was the scorn of the other boys.
Source: tatoeba (301065)
She has scorn for me.
Source: tatoeba (314430)
Showing 4 of 20 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "scorn"?
Closest matches include contempt, disdain, abhor, abomination, airs.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "scorn"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.