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disdegno

disdain

noun deez-DEN-yoh Rare

Also means

scorn

Usage Note

Disdegno expresses a cold, haughty contempt — a sense that something is beneath one's dignity. It is more literary and elevated than everyday disprezzo. The verb form is disdegnare (to disdain). A learner may confuse it with sdegno (indignation, righteous anger), which carries moral outrage rather than superiority; the two are close but distinct in register.

Examples

"Guardò la proposta con disdegno."

Natural Translation

He looked at the proposal with disdain.

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