contempt
contempt Lexical Profile
contempt Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The feeling or attitude that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving of scorn.
"She looked at the dishonest politician with undisguised contempt."
Willful disregard or open disrespect for things that should be taken seriously, such as rules, danger, or convention.
"The company showed a blatant contempt for environmental regulations."
The legal offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers, or of a legislative body.
"The judge warned the disruptive witness that he would be held in contempt of court."
Word Nuance & Usage
The related adjectives 'contemptible' and 'contemptuous' are frequently confused: 'contemptible' means deserving of contempt (despicable), whereas 'contemptuous' means feeling or expressing contempt (scornful).
• Rhymes for contempt
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Latin contemptus ('scorn, disrespect'), derived from the verb contemnere ('to despise or value little'), from com- (intensive prefix) and temnere ('to scorn or slight').