disesteem: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “disesteem” mean?
to hold in low regard.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
to hold in low regard; to lack respect or admiration for.
A state of being held in low regard; lack of respect or admiration. As a noun, the feeling or state itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is equally rare and formal in both varieties. Slight preference for the noun form over the verb in modern usage.
Connotations
Conveys a severe, principled, often intellectual or moral disapproval.
Frequency
Very low frequency; encountered almost exclusively in formal writing, philosophical discourse, or archaic/literary contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “disesteem” in a Sentence
[subject] disesteems [object][subject] holds [object] in disesteemdisesteem for [object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “disesteem” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The committee came to disesteem his methods as antiquated and inefficient.
- Historians no longer disesteem the contributions of marginalised groups.
American English
- The critic openly disesteemed the author's latest work as derivative.
- A society that disesteems intellectual curiosity cannot thrive.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used. 'Lack of respect' or 'poor reputation' are standard.
Academic
Used in philosophical, sociological, or historical texts to describe societal judgments of low worth (e.g., 'the disesteem of manual labour').
Everyday
Virtually unused. 'Look down on' or 'don't respect' are the common equivalents.
Technical
Not applicable in technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “disesteem”
- Using it intransitively (e.g., 'He disesteems' without an object). Confusing it with 'disrespect' as a verb in casual contexts. Incorrect stress placement (e.g., /'dɪs.ɛs.tiːm/).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a rare, formal word primarily found in academic or literary writing.
Yes, but both uses are formal and uncommon. The noun form ('hold in disesteem') is slightly more frequent than the verb.
'Disesteem' implies a more considered, often principled, judgment of low worth and is more formal. 'Disrespect' is broader and can refer to rude behaviour or speech, not just a state of low regard.
No, there is no commonly accepted adjective form. You would use phrases like 'held in disesteem' or 'disesteemed' (past participle as adjective).
to hold in low regard.
Disesteem is usually formal, literary in register.
Disesteem: in British English it is pronounced /ˌdɪs.ɪˈstiːm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌdɪs.əˈstim/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hold in disesteem”
- “fall into disesteem”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: DIS (not) + ESTEEM (respect). It is the opposite of holding someone in high esteem.
Conceptual Metaphor
RESPECT IS A VALUABLE OBJECT (to disesteem is to withhold or remove that object). SOCIAL STANDING IS HEIGHT (to disesteem is to lower someone's standing).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'disesteem' most appropriately used?