flout

/flaʊt/

/flaʊt/

Other forms: flouted; flouting; flouts

To flout is to scorn or show contempt for. "I flout the law and the concept of civilian safety by making a concerted effort to jaywalk every time I cross a street."

Oddly enough, when flout came into existence in the 1550s, it had a much different sense to it than it does now; it's believed that it evolved from the Middle English flowten, “to play the flute." These days, the verb flout means "to scorn," as in to scorn a law, person, or social norm by defying it. As a noun, it is a contemptuous remark or insult. Wrote William Shakespeare, “Flout 'em, and scout 'em; and scout 'em and flout 'em; Thought is free.”

Definitions of flout

1. verb

   treat with contemptuous disregard
   “flout the rules”

   synonyms: scoff

   type of:

   brush aside, brush off, discount, dismiss, disregard, ignore, push aside

   bar from attention or consideration
2. verb

   laugh at with contempt and derision
   synonyms: barrack, gibe, jeer, scoff

   type of:

   bait, cod, rag, rally, razz, ride, tantalise, tantalize, taunt, tease, twit

   harass with persistent criticism or carping