Definition of floutnext
as in to disregard
to ignore in a disrespectful manner an able-bodied motorist openly flouting the law and parking in a space reserved for the disabled

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word flout distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of flout are fleer, gibe, jeer, scoff, and sneer. While all these words mean "to show one's contempt in derision or mockery," flout stresses contempt shown by refusal to heed.

flouted the conventions of polite society

When can fleer be used instead of flout?

In some situations, the words fleer and flout are roughly equivalent. However, fleer suggests grinning or grimacing derisively.

the saucy jackanapes fleered at my credulity

When would gibe be a good substitute for flout?

While in some cases nearly identical to flout, gibe implies taunting either good-naturedly or in sarcastic derision.

hooted and gibed at the umpire

Where would jeer be a reasonable alternative to flout?

Although the words jeer and flout have much in common, jeer suggests a coarser more undiscriminating derision.

the crowd jeered at the prisoners

When is it sensible to use scoff instead of flout?

The words scoff and flout can be used in similar contexts, but scoff stresses insolence, disrespect, or incredulity as motivating the derision.

scoffed at their concerns

When might sneer be a better fit than flout?

While the synonyms sneer and flout are close in meaning, sneer stresses insulting by contemptuous facial expression, phrasing, or tone of voice.

sneered at anything romantic

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of flout Yet more than 80 businesses apparently flouted LegitScript's rules while touting its seal of approval, a CBS News investigation found. — Daniel Gilbert, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 Hundreds of protesters rallied outside Israel’s embassy in Bangkok, demanding that foreign visitors — especially Israelis — stop flouting Thai laws and customs as anger over tourist misconduct spills into the streets. — Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 One of the most notable accusations was that the senator flouted meetings with constituents. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2026 In Sonoma County, a civil grand jury in 2022 found the county lacked sufficient income monitoring after a whistleblower accused a prominent developer of flouting income restrictions. — Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flout
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flout
Verb
  • Attorneys for the Wilton Rancheria have argued that the 2017 agreement explicitly said the tribe’s code would govern labor relations at the casino, and disregarding that labor code would disregard the tribe’s sovereignty.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Portraits of young female military spotters, whose warnings about a potential attack were disregarded, mark their deaths that day.
    — Cara Anna, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • For example, Scalia famously cast the deciding vote in 1989 to hold unconstitutional a law criminalizing burning the American flag despite being a big patriot and despising such activities.
    — Brian Fitzpatrick, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In both projects, she was tasked not only with playing the same person from young adulthood to maturity, but also with bringing new dimension to a literary character whom readers have misguidedly despised for decades.
    — Hillary Busis, Vanity Fair, 25 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Most mega-bestsellers of eras past are forgotten, and even the award winners that make their way into academic syllabi fade into dusty bibliography.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The cheek-facing side, the chewing surface and the often-forgotten inside surface near the tongue or roof of the mouth.
    — Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 Oct. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Flout.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flout. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!