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 Words From

• self-con·tempt 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

"I'm just shocked that we can be treated with such contempt," she said.

From BBC

Maddin explained that he started creating the characters "from a point of sheer contempt", but as the film progresses and more ludicrous things start to happen "you feel for them a little bit".

From BBC

He said the government "must respect the decision, or else it would be viewed as contempt of court".

From BBC

The character Kawada, we are told, is a successful businessman, “and the good fortune he hoped for was to look with contempt at life.”

From New York Times

But poorer countries angrily rejected this as too low, with the group of small island nations saying they were "deeply disappointed" with an offer that showed "contempt for our vulnerable people".

From BBC

Related Words

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