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

Germany said Friday's attack showed a "contempt for humanity" from Moscow.

Read more on Barron's

The bigger Lippmann’s short position grew, the greater the implicit expression of contempt for these people and their industry—an industry quickly becoming Wall Street’s most profitable business.

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She defied court orders to issue the licenses until a federal judge jailed her for contempt of court in September 2015.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A federal judge held her in contempt for refusing to comply with the law.

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In 2000, Laws was also found guilty of contempt of court for interviewing a juror after a murder trial and was handed a suspended jail sentence.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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