Contemptuous , the strongest word in this list, means viewing something or someone as mean, vile or worthless and actively showing or expressing that view. Attributively, contemptuous is applied to a person’s words or actions; predicatively it may be used to describe the person. A man may utter a contemptuous remark; he may be contemptuous of his associates.

Scornful and disdainful agree in their application to persons feeling or expressing contempt based on pride or a sense of superiority. The expression of contempt is often limited to the dismissal of the object as unworthy of attention. Like contemptuous , these words are used attributively with expressions of contempt and predicatively with the person expressing it: a scornful glance; a disdainful rejection; The nobles were disdainful of the peasants. Scornful differs from disdainful in indicating greater emotional hostility to whatever is being condemned; disdainful , in comparison, may more readily suggest archness or haughtiness based on a sense of social superiority: a scornful attack by his enraged opponent; dismissing her maid with a disdainful nod. Scornful and contemptuous are closer in tone, but contemptuous suggest negative evaluation that may be expressed in ironic ways. Scornful points more to reaction than evaluation and might apply to more direct expression: a contemptuous look that suggested how worthless he found her proposal to be; a scornful outburst.

Insolent intensifies aspects implicit in disdainful , suggesting an arrogant or impudent pride that is expressed in rude behaviour: the prima donna’s insolent remarks about the director’s ineptness. Where someone might be justified in feeling contemptuous or scornful of something ?or even disdainful ?insolent always indicates a peremptory or overweening grandiosity. Audacious , while conveying some sense of boldness or adventurousness, more often applies to reckless behaviour that is conspicuous and outrageous: His audacious manners are a effrontery to good taste.

Supercilious indicates a haughty or affected manner that is so excessive or unfounded as to become pompous or ridiculous: supercilious flattery; a plain-spoken man who was contemptuous of her supercilious airs and grand gestures. The word comes from the Latin for eyebrow; raised eyebrows are often characteristic of a supercilious expression.