scorns

Scorns is the plural noun form of scorn, or the third-person singular present tense of the verb to scorn. As a noun, scorn denotes a feeling or expression of contempt, disdain, or derision directed at someone or something deemed unworthy. As a verb, to scorn means to regard with contempt or to reject with strong disapproval. Scorns can be expressed openly in words, gestures, or facial expressions, and may be directed at individuals, actions, ideas, or institutions.

Common collocations include cast scorn on, scorn for, and scornful, as in “to cast scorn on a proposal” or “to scorn the behavior of the group.” The term can imply moral judgment beyond simple dislike, and it frequently carries a tone of superiority or vindication. Scorn may function as a social signal, reinforcing norms by publicly condemning behavior that deviates from those norms. In rhetoric, scorn can be used to belittle opponents or to dramatize a perceived gap between ideals and reality.

Historically, the word has appeared in English from the medieval period onward and has parallels in many languages that express contempt or disdain. In literature and philosophy, scorn is often depicted as a force that can corrode relationships, expose hypocrisy, or reveal power imbalances. See also contempt, derision, ridicule.