contempt

con·tempt

noun \kən-ˈtem(p)t\

Definition of CONTEMPT

1

a : the act of despising : the state of mind of one who despises : disdain b : lack of respect or reverence for something

2

: the state of being despised

3

: willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body <contempt of court>

Examples of CONTEMPT

1. He feels that wealthy people view him with contempt because he is poor.
2. He spoke with contempt in his voice.
3. She has displayed a profound contempt for her opponents.
4. She was arrested for contempt of court.
5. There, in the tall grass and the jungle, many would fall and the rest would return home to endure the sullen contempt of their fellow citizens, all to no purpose. —A. J. Bacevich, Commonweal, 12 Sept. 1997
6. I even read a mild contempt into this first-name business, comparable to the old habit of calling men Mac, Ace, Chief, or Buddy, or calling women Honey, Sweetie, or Doll. —Aristides, American Scholar, Summer 1996
7. The same contempt for the poor that suggests kids are better off in orphanages will mobilize resistance to the orphanages themselves. —Katha Pollitt, Nation, 12 Dec. 1994
8. … they looked with contempt at the bloodless gray arthritic hands of the old woman … —Alice Walker, In Love & Trouble, 1973

Origin of CONTEMPT

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin contemptus, from contemnere (see contemn)

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to CONTEMPT

Synonyms: contemptuousness, despisement, despite, despitefulness, disdain, misprision, scorn

Antonyms: admiration, esteem, estimation, favor, regard, respect

Related Words: abhorrence, abomination, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, loathing, lovelessness; cattiness, hatefulness, invidiousness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignancy, malignity, meanness, spite, spitefulness; aversion, disgust, distaste, horror, odium, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, gall, grudge, hostility, jealousy, pique, resentment; bile, jaundice, rancor, spleen, venom, vindictiveness, virulence, vitriol; aspersion, belittlement, deprecation, depreciation, detraction, diminishment, disparagement; derision, mockery, ridicule; abuse, invective, vituperation; censure, condemnation, denunciation

Near Antonyms: acceptance, tolerance; adoration, adulation, deference, deification, glorification, idolatry, idolization, lionization, reverence, veneration, worship; affection, fancy, fondness, liking, love

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Rhymes with CONTEMPT

attempt, exempt