contempt
- 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.
Origin of contempt
Synonym study
Examples from the Web for self-contempt
Contemporary Examples of self-contempt
Redford still admired him, saying he was “isolated from the world, free of self-contempt, managing an inn at the edge of nowhere.”
Historical Examples of self-contempt
Kirkwood groaned with despair of his inability to fathom the abyss of his self-contempt.
The Black BagLouis Joseph Vance
To him the winter passed in a maze of doubt and self-contempt.
The Incomplete AmoristE. Nesbit
Not without some self-contempt, he asked himself what had become of his resolution.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
In earning the contempt of others he had not saved himself from self-contempt.
The ManxmanHall Caine
It was a knowledge that was to sear her presently with self-loathing and self-contempt.
The Historical Nights Entertainment, Second SeriesRafael Sabatini
contempt
- 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
Word Origin and History for self-contempt
contempt
late 14c., from Latin contemptus "scorn," from past participle of contemnere "to scorn, despise," from com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + *temnere "to slight, scorn," of uncertain origin. Phrase contempt of court is attested from 19c., though the idea is several centuries older.
Idioms and Phrases with self-contempt
contempt
see familiarity breeds contempt.