contemn

American  

[kuhn-tem] / kənˈtɛm /

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or regard with disdain, scorn, or contempt.

   Synonyms:

   scorn, despise, disdain

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contemn British  

/ kənˈtɛm, -ˈtɛmə, kənˈtɛmnɪbəl, kənˈtɛmnə /

verb

1. formal (tr) to treat or regard with contempt; scorn

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Other Word Forms

• contemner noun
• contemnible adjective
• contemnibly adverb
• contemningly adverb
• contemnor noun
• precontemn verb (used with object)
• uncontemned adjective
• uncontemning adjective
• uncontemningly adverb

Etymology

Origin of contemn

1375–1425; late Middle English contempnen (< Middle French ) < Latin contemnere to despise, scorn, equivalent to con- con- + temnere to slight; contempt

Example Sentences

Then again, what mainly unites the leaders of the new dictators’ club is the shared perception that they stand to lose very little in working against a country they detest and a president they contemn.

From The Wall Street Journal

For instance, the medical team that initially saw Mr. Duncan did not share information about his past in Liberia, and it took days for a potentially contemned apartment to be cleaned.

From Washington Times

The King does not believe that I would contemn his commands--in his heart he does not, I am sure!

From Project Gutenberg

As Æneas says, “Capistrano had despised the pomps of the world, he had fled from its delights, he had trampled down avarice, he had overcome lust, but he could not contemn glory.”

From Project Gutenberg

Clarendon complained that the Prince "too affectedly" despised what was said of him, and "too stoically contemned the affections of men."

From Project Gutenberg