disdain
/dɪsˈdeɪn/ (bre, ipa) · /dɪsˈdeɪn/ (ame, ipa) · /dis-ˈdān/ (ame, mw)
disdain — noun
1. a strong feeling that someone or something is beneath you — that they are not wo
a strong feeling that someone or something is beneath you — that they are not worth your time, attention, or respect
Fatima could not hide her disdain for the dishonest politician on the television screen.
collocation: hide one's disdain for [someone]
Hiroshi spoke about the lazy intern with open disdain at the staff meeting.
collocation: with open disdain
The mayor's disdain for reporters was clear from his short, cold answers.
Oluwaseun treated the old-fashioned office rules with barely hidden disdain.
Dr. Nguyen's voice carried unmistakable disdain when she mentioned the plagiarised research.
- contempt
stronger and more actively hostile; often carries moral judgment
- scorn
more emotional and openly expressed; can involve mockery or derision
- condescension
the act of behaving as if superior, rather than just the inner feeling
- admiration
a feeling of respect and warm approval
- respect
a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something
用法筆記
Often used with prepositions 'for' or 'toward(s)'. The feeling is stronger than mere dislike — it carries a sense of looking down from a position of perceived superiority. Common in formal writing and speech.
常見錯誤
disdain — verb
- disdainpresent simple I / you / we / they
- disdains3rd person singular
- disdaining-ing form
- disdainedpast simple
1. to think of someone or something as unworthy of respect and to treat them as ben
to think of someone or something as unworthy of respect and to treat them as beneath your notice
The art critic openly disdained anything that was not painted in the classical style.
collocation: openly disdained
Amara disdained the cheap souvenirs that tourists bought at the market stalls.
Mr. Kowalski disdained people who talked loudly on their phones in restaurants.
Esther had always disdained gossip, preferring to talk about ideas instead.
The old professor disdained new teaching methods and refused to use a computer in class.
- scorn
more emotional and openly derisive
- despise
stronger, involving personal hatred rather than cool dismissal
- look down on
less formal and more conversational; widely used in everyday speech
文法句型
disdain + noun phrase
用法筆記
Always takes a direct object. Typical objects are people, ideas, behaviours, or things the subject considers inferior. More common in written than spoken English. Distinguish from sense 2, which takes a to-infinitive complement rather than a noun object.
常見錯誤
2. to decline to perform an action because you consider it below your standing or s
to decline to perform an action because you consider it below your standing or self-respect
Dimitri disdained to answer what he called 'such a foolish question.'
pattern: disdain + to-infinitive (refuse to answer)
The celebrity chef disdained to eat at the fast-food restaurant with the rest of the crew.
Jun disdained to argue with someone who had not even read the report.
Naledi disdained to explain her decision, saying the board should simply trust her judgment.
The wealthy landlord disdained to meet his tenants in person, sending his lawyer instead.
- deign
implies granting a favour by doing something considered beneath oneself; often used negatively as 'did not deign to'
- condescend
to lower oneself to do something; often carries a sense of patronising behaviour
文法句型
disdain + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Only sense that takes a to-infinitive complement (disdain + to do something). The subject is typically a person who considers themselves above the action. Distinguish from sense 1, which takes a direct noun object. Often found in literature and formal writing.