scorn

Scorn is a strong feeling of contempt or derision toward someone or something regarded as unworthy. It can function as a noun (the scorn he faced), a verb (to scorn someone), or as an adjective/adverb form: scornful, scornfully. The sense combines contempt with moral judgment and social disapproval.

In use, scorn involves more than dislike or ridicule; it conveys condemnation and a rejection of value. It can be directed at persons, actions, ideas, or institutions, and is often expressed through tone, facial expressions, or dismissive language such as derisive laughter or a sneer. Nonverbal cues include a raised chin, pursed lips, and a cold or cutting voice.

Causes of scorn include perceived hypocrisy, moral failing, incompetence, or violations of social norms. It can serve social functions by signaling boundaries, enforcing norms, or excluding others. In literature, scorn is a rhetorical or thematic device used to reveal character flaws or to critique social orders.

Synonyms include disdain, contempt, and derision; related but distinct terms include ridicule and sarcasm. Scorn contrasts with mere dislike by its stronger moral dimension and its intent to demean.

Etymology: the word has Old English origins and has developed through Middle English to its current sense, rooted in a long-standing expression of contempt within the English-speaking world.