scorn
/skɔːn/ (bre, ipa) · /skɔːrn/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈskȯrn/ (ame, mw)
scorn — noun
1. the intense feeling that a person or thing deserves no respect because you judge
the intense feeling that a person or thing deserves no respect because you judge them as foolish, weak, or worthless.
Chidi felt nothing but scorn for the bullies who teased his little brother at school.
scorn for + noun pattern
The old farmer looked at the city banker with scorn as he counted the worthless coins.
with scorn (adverbial phrase)
Madison hid her scorn behind a polite smile while her cousin bragged about his new car.
Public scorn for cheaters in the cycling race grew louder after the doping scandal broke.
There was deep scorn in Liam's voice when he spoke about the lazy manager.
- respect
the most direct opposite — a positive judgement of worth.
- admiration
stronger than respect; positive feeling about someone's quality or action.
文法句型
scorn for + noun
with scorn
用法筆記
Frequently uncountable and used with prepositions 'for' (the target) or 'in' (the place it appears, e.g. voice, eyes, smile). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense names the inner emotion; sense 2 names the outward act that expresses it.
常見錯誤
2. an open remark, look, or action that shows you think a person, idea, or thing ha
an open remark, look, or action that shows you think a person, idea, or thing has no value.
The politician poured scorn on the rival party's plan during the live debate.
fixed phrase: pour scorn on
Élise's laughter was full of scorn when she read the badly written letter.
full of scorn (description of an act)
Critics heaped scorn on the film's clumsy ending, calling it lazy and dull.
Hamza answered the rude question with quiet scorn rather than anger.
- praise
open verbal approval — direct opposite of pouring scorn on something.
文法句型
pour scorn on
heap scorn on
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 by asking: is this the feeling itself, or the outward act that displays it? This sense names visible expression — words, laughs, looks — and appears in the fixed phrases 'pour scorn on' and 'heap scorn on'.
常見錯誤
scorn — verb
- scornpresent simple I / you / we / they
- scorns3rd person singular
- scorning-ing form
- scornedpast simple
1. to look down on a person, group, or thing because you believe they are foolish,
to look down on a person, group, or thing because you believe they are foolish, weak, or worthless.
Amihan scorned the gossip magazines her aunts read every Sunday afternoon.
scorn + concrete noun object
Many villagers scorned the young doctor at first because he came from the city.
The professor scorned any idea that could not be tested in a real laboratory.
Asher was scorned by his teammates for refusing to cheat during the test.
Eri quietly scorned the cheap jewellery her boyfriend gave her last birthday.
文法句型
scorn + noun
be scorned by + agent
用法筆記
Subject is usually a person; object can be a person, group, idea, or object judged unworthy. Frequently passive when the focus is on the target rather than the judge. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about looking down on something; sense 2 is about actively refusing or rejecting it.
常見錯誤
2. to turn down an offer, help, or piece of advice because pride makes you feel it
to turn down an offer, help, or piece of advice because pride makes you feel it is beneath you to accept it.
Shanti scorned her cousin's offer of money even though her rent was overdue.
scorn + noun (offer)
The proud chef scorned every piece of advice the food critic gave her.
scorn + noun (advice)
Vinícius scorned to ask his rival neighbour for help fixing the broken fence.
Christopher scorned the easy job his father offered and went to work on a fishing boat.
文法句型
scorn + noun (offer, advice, help)
scorn to do something
用法筆記
Subject is the proud refuser; object is the offer / advice / help being refused. The pattern 'scorn to do something' (refuse to do it out of pride) is formal and mainly literary. Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is the act of refusing, not the underlying feeling of contempt.