contempt

[kuhn-tempt]

noun

1. the feeling with which a person regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn.

2. the state of being despised; dishonor; disgrace.

3. Law.

   1. willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court contempt of court or legislative body.

   2. an act showing such disrespect.

contempt

/ kənˈtɛmpt /

noun

1. the attitude or feeling of a person towards a person or thing that he considers worthless or despicable; scorn

2. the state of being scorned; disgrace (esp in the phrase hold in contempt )

3. wilful disregard of or disrespect for the authority of a court of law or legislative body

   contempt of court

Other Word Forms

• self-contempt noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contempt¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin contemptus “despising, scorn,” noun derivative of contemnere “to despise, scorn”; contemn

Word History and Origins

Origin of contempt¹

C14: from Latin contemptus a despising, from contemnere to _contemn

Idioms and Phrases

see familiarity breeds contempt.

Synonym Study

contempt , disdain , scorn imply strong feelings of disapproval and aversion toward what seems base, mean, or worthless. contempt is disapproval tinged with disgust: to feel contempt for a weakling . disdain is a feeling that a person or thing is beneath one's dignity and unworthy of one's notice, respect, or concern: a disdain for crooked dealing . scorn denotes open or undisguised contempt often combined with derision: He showed only scorn for those who were not as ambitious as himself.

Example Sentences

In June, Lira pleaded guilty in Illinois federal court to one count of contempt of court for defying a Chicago judge’s order concerning the distribution of settlement funds.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A Reform source told BBC News: "It's disgusting and libellous. Beneath contempt."

Read more on BBC

The third license plate said “QUEER,” which the department said “may be considered insulting, degrading, or expressing contempt for a specific group or person.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

They said it would be "premature" to decide whether to begin contempt of court proceedings against any MI5 officers before a new investigation took place.

Read more on BBC

As it turns out, all this contempt that leaders of the religious right have for a woman’s capabilities miraculously dries up the second her intelligence can be used to serve a man and not herself.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• antipathy 
• condescension 
• defiance 
• derision 
• disdain 
• disregard 
• disrespect 
• distaste 
• hatred 
• malice 
• mockery 
• neglect 
• ridicule 
• scorn