Pronunciation: [skˈɔːnfə͡l] (IPA) 
The word "scornful" is spelled as /ˈskɔːnfʊl/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The initial "s" is pronounced as /s/, followed by a long "o" sound /ɔː/ and a silent "r". The next syllable is pronounced as /n/ followed by a short "u" sound /ʌ/ and a soft "f" sound /f/. The final syllable is pronounced as a short "u" sound /ʊl/. The word means to feel or express contempt or disdain towards someone or something.
Scornful is an adjective that is used to describe a person, attitude, or expression that is filled with contempt, disdain, or derision towards someone or something. It encompasses a strong sense of superiority or arrogance, often displayed through sneering, mocking, or dismissive behavior.
When someone is scornful, they hold an intense feeling of contempt or disregard for another person, idea, or action, fueled by a belief that it is unworthy, inferior, or deserving of scorn. This can manifest in a variety of ways, such as a condescending tone of voice, a mocking or mocking smile, or openly deriding and belittling someone or their actions.
A scornful attitude may arise from a sense of self-importance, pride, or a belief in one's own superiority. It often involves looking down upon others or their opinions, belittling their achievements, or scoffing at their efforts.
In terms of facial expressions, a scornful look may include raised eyebrows, a contorted or smirking mouth, or a narrowing of the eyes that communicates a profound sense of disdain or ridicule.
Words like "contemptuous," "disdainful," and "disparaging" are often used interchangeably with scornful, as they encapsulate the same emotions and attitudes. Overall, scornful represents a strong negative sentiment that reflects disregard, disdain, or contempt towards someone or something.
Contemptuous; disdainful.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "scornful" originated from the Middle English word "scornfulle", which was derived from the Old French word "escarnue" or "escrne", meaning "to mock" or "scorn". This Old French term is further traced back to the Latin word "excrēnāre", which means "to treat with contempt". Ultimately, the Latin term is derived from the combination of the prefix "ex-" (meaning "out") and the noun "cernere" (meaning "to separate" or "to sift").
