contemptuous

[ kuhn-temp-choo-uhs ]
See synonyms for: contemptuouscontemptuouslycontemptuousness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. showing or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; disrespectful.

Origin of contemptuous

1
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin contemptu-, stem of contemptus “a slighting” (see contempt) + -ous

Other words for contemptuous

Opposites for contemptuous

Other words from contemptuous

  • con·temp·tu·ous·ly, adverb
  • con·temp·tu·ous·ness, noun
  • half-con·temp·tu·ous, adjective
  • non·con·temp·tu·ous, adjective
  • non·con·temp·tu·ous·ness, noun
  • un·con·temp·tu·ous, adjective
  • un·con·temp·tu·ous·ness, noun

Words that may be confused with contemptuous

Words Nearby contemptuous

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How to use contemptuous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contemptuous

contemptuous

/ (kənˈtɛmptjʊəs) /


adjective
  1. (when predicative, often foll by of) showing or feeling contempt; disdainful

Derived forms of contemptuous

  • contemptuously, adverb
  • contemptuousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012