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definitions

contemptuous

[kuhn-temp-choo-uhs]
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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 for contemptuous

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR contemptuous ON THESAURUS.COM
disdainful, sneering, insolent, arrogant, supercilious, haughty.

Antonyms for contemptuous

respectful.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for contemptuously

harshly, crudely, bluntly, arrogantly, haughtily, insolently, loudly, roughly, sharply, barbarously, brazenly, coarsely, crassly, curtly, disrespectfully, indecently, indecorously, sassily, snootily, tactlessly

Examples from the Web for contemptuously

Historical Examples of contemptuously

  • And I believe I smiled a little too contemptuously for a sister to a sister.

    Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)

    Samuel Richardson

  • The commissionaire regarded him contemptuously, but did not reply to the sarcasm.

    The Foolish Lovers

    St. John G. Ervine

  • “Nobody will believe what a man of that sort says,” said Mr Vladimir contemptuously.

    The Secret Agent

    Joseph Conrad

  • He stooped, picked it up, and cast it contemptuously from him.

    Good Indian

    B. M. Bower

  • A nobleman once contemptuously asked of a sage, “What have you got by all your philosophy?”

    Self-Help

    Samuel Smiles

British Dictionary definitions for contemptuously

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 contemptuously

contemptuous

adj.

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

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper