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Taunt vs Scorn - What's the difference?

taunt | scorn |

As verbs the difference between taunt and scorn

is that taunt is to make fun of (someone); to goad (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner while scorn is to feel or display contempt or disdain for something or somebody; to despise.

As nouns the difference between taunt and scorn

is that taunt is a scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery while scorn is contempt or disdain.

As an adjective taunt

is very high or tall.

taunt

English

Etymology 1

Verb

(en verb)
  • to make fun of (someone); to (a person) into responding, often in an aggressive manner.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A scornful or mocking remark; a jeer or mockery
  • Etymology 2

    Compare (etyl) . See ataunt.

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (nautical) Very high or tall.
  • a ship with taunt masts
    (Totten)

    scorn

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To feel or display contempt or disdain for something or somebody; to despise.
  • * C. J. Smith
  • We scorn what is in itself contemptible or disgraceful.
  • To scoff, express contempt.
  • To reject, turn down
  • He scorned her romantic advances.
  • To refuse to do something, as beneath oneself.
  • She scorned to show weakness.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Noun

  • (uncountable) Contempt or disdain.
  • (countable) A display of disdain; a slight.
  • * Dryden
  • Every sullen frown and bitter scorn / But fanned the fuel that too fast did burn.
  • (countable) An object of disdain, contempt, or derision.
  • * Bible, Psalms xliv. 13
  • Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

    Usage notes

    * Scorn'' is often used in the phrases ''pour scorn on'' and ''heap scorn on .

    Quotations

    * circa 1605': The cry is still 'They come': our castle's strength / Will laugh a siege to '''scorn — '' * 1967', Rain of tears, real, mist of imagined '''scorn — John Berryman, ''Berryman's Sonnets . New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * scornful

    Anagrams

    *