Disdainful Of: Standard Pattern
Disdainful Of: Standard Pattern records the directly documented construction and keeps guidance bounded to the evidenced pattern rather than inventing a broader prohibition.
Use “disdainful of” when someone shows that they consider a person, thing, or group unworthy of interest or respect.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| someone regards a person, thing, or group as unworthy of respect or interest | disdainful of + object | Use the documented “of” complement. |
| the adjective modifies a noun directly | disdainful + noun | No “of” phrase is required in this adjectival position. |
| the object is already clear from context | disdainful | The adjective can stand without an explicit “of” complement. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you naming the person or thing toward which the disdain is directed?
If yes: Use “disdainful of …”.
If no: If “disdainful” directly modifies a noun or the target is already understood, a different structure may be appropriate.
Caveat: Choose by the documented meaning or construction; a different pattern may be valid in a different sentence structure, region, or register.
Examples
She was disdainful of the shortcut.
The “of” phrase names the object of disdain.
He gave a disdainful reply.
The adjective directly modifies the noun “reply.”
The reviewer sounded openly disdainful.
The adjective can stand without an “of” complement when the target is understood.
Further guidance
Construction
Use “disdainful of” when someone shows that they consider a person, thing, or group unworthy of interest or respect.
Style Boundary
The adjective can also modify a noun directly or occur without an “of” complement; this guide covers the directly documented “of” pattern.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- DISDAINFUL | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Cambridge dictionary evidence for disdainful of as a documented construction.