contemptuous

[kuh n-temp-choo-uh s]

See more synonyms for contemptuous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

showing or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; disrespectful.

Origin of contemptuous

1520–30; < Latin contemptu-, stem of contemptus contempt + -ous

Related formscon·temp·tu·ous·ly, adverbcon·temp·tu·ous·ness, nounhalf-con·temp·tu·ous, adjectivehalf-con·temp·tu·ous·ly, adverbnon·con·temp·tu·ous, adjectivenon·con·temp·tu·ous·ly, adverbnon·con·temp·tu·ous·ness, nounun·con·temp·tu·ous, adjectiveun·con·temp·tu·ous·ly, adverbun·con·temp·tu·ous·ness, noun

Can be confusedcontemptible contemptuous

Synonyms

See more synonyms for contemptuous on Thesaurus.com

disdainful, sneering, insolent, arrogant, supercilious, haughty.

Antonyms

respectful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for contemptuous

Contemporary Examples

But then he gave the game away, with a turn of phrase that promptly made its way into headlines and contemptuous write-ups.
Liam Neeson Loves Horses and Nietzsche
James Poulos
April 16, 2014
With the money came the filth, and the contemptuous lewdness you see in the film are based on actual claims in the book.
The Real Wolf of Wall Street: Jordan Belfort’s Vulgar Memoirs
Jimmy So
December 20, 2013
You quickly become bored by and contemptuous of everyone, up to the president himself.
The White House and the Press Corps
Michael Tomasky
February 19, 2013
Asked if he might write 1,000 words a day, an honorable pace, he was contemptuous: “I can write 1,000 words in my sleep.”
Bill O'Reilly is Best
Justin Green
December 26, 2012
A parallel, insular society evolves, dependent on the outside world and contemptuous of its values.
Welfare Reform? Not For The Orthodox
Raphael Magarik
June 13, 2012

Historical Examples

A new respect for him, also a new pity that was generous and not contemptuous, crept into his heart.
Viviette
William J. Locke
Then she faced the lawyer again, with an aloofness of manner that was contemptuous.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Could the master of language find no better word than the contemptuous one?
The Man Shakespeare
Frank Harris
She gave it one contemptuous glance, and turning, came back to the door.
Her Father's Daughter
Gene Stratton-Porter
He was heard, under his breath, to pronounce a contemptuous Pshaw!
Tales And Novels, Volume 5 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth

British Dictionary definitions for contemptuous

contemptuous

adjective

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

Derived Formscontemptuously, adverbcontemptuousness, 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

Word Origin and History for contemptuous

adj.

1590s, from Latin contemptus (see contempt). Related: Contemptuously.

contemptuous

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}contemptuous

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for contemptuous

Contemporary Examples

But then he gave the game away, with a turn of phrase that promptly made its way into headlines and contemptuous write-ups.

With the money came the filth, and the contemptuous lewdness you see in the film are based on actual claims in the book.

You quickly become bored by and contemptuous of everyone, up to the president himself.

Asked if he might write 1,000 words a day, an honorable pace, he was contemptuous: “I can write 1,000 words in my sleep.”

A parallel, insular society evolves, dependent on the outside world and contemptuous of its values.

Historical Examples

A new respect for him, also a new pity that was generous and not contemptuous, crept into his heart.

Then she faced the lawyer again, with an aloofness of manner that was contemptuous.

Could the master of language find no better word than the contemptuous one?

She gave it one contemptuous glance, and turning, came back to the door.

He was heard, under his breath, to pronounce a contemptuous Pshaw!

contemptuous

Word Origin and History for contemptuous

adj.

Origin of contemptuous