contempt

[ kuhn-tempt ]

/ kənˈtɛmpt /

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noun

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

the state of being despised; dishonor; disgrace.

Law.

willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court (contempt of court ) or legislative body.
an act showing such disrespect.

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Origin of contempt

1350–1400; Middle English (<Anglo-French ) <Latin contemptus a slighting, equivalent to contemn(ere) to despise, scorn (see contemn) + -tus suffix of verb action (with loss of n and intrusive p)

synonym study for contempt

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM contempt

self-con·tempt, noun

Words nearby contempt

contempo, contemporaneous, contemporaneously, contemporary, contemporize, contempt, contemptible, contempt of Congress, contempt of court, contemptuous, contemptuously

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use contempt in a sentence

They are the poster children for evil at its core and as such, need to be treated with contempt.
Tribute to my American heroes|Brody Levesque|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Adult curfews are imposed, colors of clothing are not allowed, littering or being too loud in public could result in contempt of court.
While We’re Rethinking Policing, It’s Time to End Gang Injunctions|Jamie Wilson|September 15, 2020|Voice of San Diego
In March, his attorney argued that MTS should be held in contempt for failing to comply with her subpoena and the city attorney’s office should be sanctioned for its failure to assist.
Morning Report: 3 Body Cameras, No Footage|Voice of San Diego|July 22, 2020|Voice of San Diego
You’d think it’d be better to have contempt for people you, you didn’t know.
What Does Covid-19 Mean for Cities (and Marriages)? (Ep. 410)|Stephen J. Dubner|March 26, 2020|Freakonomics

Because contempt is something that I don’t want in those relationships.
What Does Covid-19 Mean for Cities (and Marriages)? (Ep. 410)|Stephen J. Dubner|March 26, 2020|Freakonomics
“Internationally there has been a lot of horror and contempt for her actions, domestically very little,” he said.
Sisi Is Persecuting, Prosecuting, and Publicly Shaming Egypt’s Gays|Bel Trew|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Alastair Sim had jowls like melting candle wax, a snarl like a cornered cat and eyes cold with contempt.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas|Clive Irving|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Their pronouncements suggest that they hold those commitments in contempt.
Facebook Prince Purges The New Republic: Inside the Destruction of a 100-Year-Old Magazine|Lloyd Grove|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Trierweiler claims that Hollande, a socialist, showed contempt for the poor, supposedly calling them “the toothless.”
Hell Hath No Fury Like Valerie Trierweiler, the French President’s Ex|Lizzie Crocker|November 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The President and his party are making their contempt all too clear to white working-class voters.
With Immigration Move, Obama and the Welfare Party Strike Again|Lloyd Green|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is then we make him our friend, which sets us above the envy and contempt of wicked men.
The Life and Most Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner (1801)|Daniel Defoe
Her eyes were blazing with triumph, yet her lips curved with contempt at the attitude of her trembling father.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
If he had cut her, he would have shown less contempt than in that stiff raising of the hat.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
He threw into the last two words an indescribable sound of half-laughing contempt.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Lifted to the skies for an hour by popular adulation, he has been sunk into obscurity ever since by historic contempt.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for contempt

contempt

/ (kənˈtɛmpt) /

noun

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

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

wilful disregard of or disrespect for the authority of a court of law or legislative bodycontempt of court

Word Origin for contempt

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

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with contempt

contempt

see familiarity breeds contempt.

contempt

Origin of contempt

synonym study for contempt

OTHER WORDS FROM contempt

Words nearby contempt

Words related to contempt

How to use contempt in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contempt

Word Origin for contempt

Other Idioms and Phrases with contempt