Spanish word

desdeñoso

Pronunciation

IPA/desðeˈɲoso/

Meaning

  • adjectivedisdainful

Example

Ella tiene una mirada desdeñosa.

She has a disdainful look.

Illustration for desdeñoso (disdainful)

More examples

Su tono fue desdeñoso durante la reunión.

His tone was contemptuous during the meeting.

Core concept

A cold, contemptuous look or gesture.

Common phrases

  • mirada desdeñosa

    contemptuous look

  • tono desdeñoso

    contemptuous tone

  • comentario desdeñoso

    contemptuous remark

Similar words

despectivo: Speaks or acts in a mildly dismissive way that treats someone as unimportant.
despreciativo: Expresses outright scorn that denies or devalues another person's worth.
altivo: Acts with lofty pride and an aloof manner that distances from others.
arrogante: Behaves with blatant self-importance, acting as if superior to others.

Definition in Spanish

Que muestra desprecio o indiferencia hacia alguien o algo, normalmente mediante la mirada, el gesto o el tono.

Word origin

Formed from desdén 'disdain' plus the adjectival suffix -oso, so it denotes being characterized by disdain.

Usage tips

  • Calling someone desdeñoso in Spanish often sounds harsh, so speakers commonly describe the action (for example, «me miró con frialdad») instead of labeling the person.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word