scornfully

Scornfully is an adverb describing an action performed with contempt, disdain, or derision. It is the adverbial form of the adjective scornful, which is built from the base word scorn with the -ful suffix meaning full of. When something is done scornfully, the tone, gesture, or facial expression conveys contempt rather than warmth or agreement.

In use, scornfully often appears in narrative or descriptive writing to indicate a negative evaluative stance. It can modify verbs related to speech, movement, or reaction, such as look, laugh, remark, or gesture. The word signals that the speaker or actor is not just critical, but openly derisive or disdainful.

Common synonyms include contemptuously, disdainfully, derisively, and sneeringly, while near-antonyms include warmly, approvingly, or gently. Because it carries a strong negative connotation, scornfully is typically employed in prose or dialogue to highlight hostility or a lack of respect rather than mild disapproval.

See also: scornful (adj) and scorn (noun/verb) for related forms and usage. While scornfully and scornful share a core meaning related to contempt, scornfully functions as a modifier of actions, whereas scornful describes a person, attitude, or thing.