Despise, contemn, scorn, disdain, scout mean to regard a person or thing as beneath one’s notice or as unworthy of one’s attention or interest.
The same differences in implications and connotations are observable in the corresponding nouns despite, contempt, scorn, disdain when they denote such an attitude toward or such treatment of a person or thing.
Despise and despite may imply an emotional reaction from strong disfavor to loathing, but in precise use it stresses a looking down upon a thing and its evaluation as mean, petty, weak, or worthless.
Contemn and contempt imply even a harsher judgment than despise or despite, for despise and despite may connote mere derision, whereas contemn and especially contempt usually suggest vehement, though not necessarily vocal, condemnation of the person or thing as low, vile, feeble, or ignominious.
Scorn implies quick, indignant, or profound contempt.
Disdain suggests a visible manifestation of pride and arrogance or of aversion to what is base.
Scout stresses not only derision but a refusal to consider the person or thing concerned as of any value, efficacy, or truth. It therefore suggests rejection or dismissal.