contempt

noun

con·​tempt kən-ˈtem(p)t 

1

a

: a feeling of intense dislike for someone or something regarded as unworthy of respect or approval : disdain

felt profound contempt for their rivals

glared at them in contempt

He spoke with contempt in his voice.

I have long held them in contempt. [= I have long felt contempt for them.]

b

: unusual or inappropriate lack of fear or reverence for something

They acted with contempt for public safety.

He has a contempt for danger.

2

: the state of being despised : disgrace

brought the nation into contempt

3

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

also : the offense of contempt

contempt of court

contempt of Congress

Phrases

in contempt

: in the state of having been found guilty of the offense of contempt

refused to appear and was held in contempt

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'in contempt' mean?

A person may be held in contempt in a number of ways. The legal sense may be defined as "willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body." In a general sense if you hold someone in contempt it simply means that you despise or strongly disapprove of them.

Is the word contempt a verb?

Contempt is typically a noun: people feel contempt, for example, or they act with contempt. The word is, however, also a verb, but as a verb it is archaic, and may be viewed as a mistake. It is synonymous with the verb contemn, which, although somewhat obscure, is not archaic.

Does contempt mean "disdain"?

In many ways the words are synonymous; one may be said to have either disdain or contempt for a thing one scorns, without a significant change in meaning. Disdain more commonly functions as a verb (the verb sense of contempt is no longer in common use), so one would write "I disdained the offer" rather than "I contempted the offer." And contempt is found used in legal settings (in the phrase contempt of court, for instance), while disdain is not.

Synonyms of contempt

• disdain
• hatred

Examples of contempt in a Sentence

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

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

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

… they looked with contempt at the bloodless gray arthritic hands of the old woman … —Alice Walker, In Love & Trouble, 1973

He feels that wealthy people view him with contempt because he is poor.

He spoke with contempt in his voice.

She has displayed a profound contempt for her opponents.

She was arrested for contempt of court.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adding further controversy to the case, in 2024, Pras’ lawyer David Kenner pleaded guilty to criminal contempt of court for leaking confidential grand jury materials to Bloomberg News. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 3 Nov. 2025

While support for the president and contempt for the left has united conservative media for years, Gaza has been driving a wedge between two of the right’s biggest names. —Max Tani, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025

The group pledged support for the creatives known as the Hollywood Ten, who were cited for contempt of Congress after refusing to address the House Un-American Activities Committee about supposed communist affiliations. —Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025

In the City Council race, incumbent Teresa Jorgensen was found guilty in 2012 of three counts of criminal contempt of court, all misdemeanors. —Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin contemptus, from contemnere "to look down on, show no respect for, despise" + -tus, suffix of action nouns (with loss of n and intrusive p) — more at contemn

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing contempt

• beneath contempt
• figure of contempt
• held in contempt
• held them in contempt
• in contempt
• self-contempt

Rhymes for contempt

• attempt
• exempt
• preempt
• unkempt
• empt
• tempt
• nonexempt

Kids Definition

contempt

noun

con·​tempt kən-ˈtem(p)t 

1

: the act of despising : the state of mind of one who despises

2

: the state of being despised

3

: disobedience or disrespect to a court, judge, or legislature

Legal Definition

contempt

noun

con·​tempt kən-ˈtempt 

1

: willful disobedience or open disrespect of the orders, authority, or dignity of a court or judge acting in a judicial capacity by disruptive language or conduct or by failure to obey the court's orders

also : the offense of contempt

called also contempt of court

— civil contempt

: contempt that consists of disobedience to a court order in favor of the opposing party

Note: The sanctions for civil contempt end upon compliance with the order.

— constructive contempt

: indirect contempt in this entry

— criminal contempt

: contempt consisting of conduct that disrupts or opposes the proceedings or power of the court

Note: The sanctions for criminal contempt are designed to punish as well as to coerce compliance.

— direct contempt

: contempt committed in the presence of the court or in a location close enough to disrupt the court's proceedings

— indirect contempt

: contempt (as disobedience of a court order) that occurs outside of the presence of the court

2

: willful disobedience to a lawful order of or willful obstruction of a legislative body in the course of exercising its powers

contempt of Congress