Definition

1. Noun:

   • Open contempt or disdain: A feeling that someone or something is worthless, inferior, or undeserving of respect.
   • An expression of such contempt: An act or statement that shows scorn.

2. Verb:

   • To treat with contempt or disdain: To reject or dismiss someone or something as unworthy.
   • To refuse or reject with scorn: To show contempt by refusing something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • Her face was full of scorn for the dishonest proposal.
  • He dismissed their outdated ideas with a look of pure scorn.

• Verb:

  • She scorned his offer of help, insisting she could manage alone.
  • The critic scorned the artist's latest work as amateurish.

Advanced Usage

• "to heap/pour scorn on someone/something": to criticize someone or something very strongly and with contempt.

  • The media heaped scorn on the government's new policy.

• "to be the scorn of": to be an object of widespread contempt or ridicule.

  • After the scandal, he became the scorn of the entire industry.

Variants and Related Words

• Scornful (adj): Feeling or expressing scorn.

  • He gave a scornful laugh at the suggestion.

• Scorner (n): (Archaic) A person who scorns.

Synonyms

• Noun: Contempt, disdain, derision, disrespect.
• Verb: Despise, disdain, look down on, spurn, reject.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

(This word is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

• "laugh to scorn": (Archaic/Literary) to mock or ridicule someone openly.
  • The prophet's warnings were laughed to scorn by the people.

Noun

1. open disrespect for a person or thing
2. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
   • he was held in contempt
   • the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary

Verb

1. reject with contempt
   • She spurned his advances
2. look down on with disdain
   • He despises the people he has to work for
   • The professor scorns the students who don't catch on immediately