contumely

[ kon-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kuhn-too-muh-lee, -tyoo-; kon-tuhm-lee, -tyoom, -chuhm ]

noun

, plural con·tu·me·lies.

1. insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.

   Synonyms: rudeness, disdain, scorn, abuse

2. a humiliating insult.

contumely

/ ˌkɒntjʊˈmiːlɪəs; ˈkɒntjʊmɪlɪ /

noun

1. scornful or insulting language or behaviour
2. a humiliating or scornful insult

Derived Forms

• ˌcontuˈmeliously, adverb
• contumelious, adjective
• ˌcontuˈmeliousness, noun

Other Words From

• con·tu·me·li·ous [kon-too-, mee, -lee-, uh, s, -tyoo-], adjective
• contu·meli·ous·ly adverb
• contu·meli·ous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contumely¹

1350–1400; Middle English contumelie (< Anglo-French ) < Latin contumēlia, perhaps akin to contumāx ( contumacy ), though formation and sense development are unclear

Word History and Origins

Origin of contumely¹

C14: from Latin contumēlia invective, from tumēre to swell, as with wrath

Example Sentences

There’s a big difference between despised love and disprized love, and between a proud man’s contumely and a poor man’s contumely.

From New York Times

You can open to nearly any page of this book and find potent anti-Mitch contumely.

From New York Times

Each day, Bull poured torrents of contumely on his morning paper.

From Literature

Christie managed to be almost cuddly while dispatching this contumely.

From New York Times

He prints plenty of contumely — mostly snobbish disapproval from Eastern visitors — about his hometown.

From New York Times