contemptible
adjective
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What Is the Difference Between contemptuous and contemptible?
Contemptuous and contemptible are sometimes confused with each other. This is neither surprising, as they are similar in appearance, nor is it unprecedented: the words were used interchangeably for several hundred years (from the 16th through the 18th century), with each one meaning both "deserving contempt" and "showing contempt." By the early 19th century, some commentators began raising objections when the words were used synonymously, suggesting that they should be distinguished, with contemptuous meaning only "showing contempt" and contemptible only "deserving contempt."
In the following passage, for example, a would-be critic is ridiculed for using contemptible in the sense "showing contempt":
“Young man! my opinion of you is very contemptible.” “All your opinions are contemptible,” rejoined Phillip, quietly. – Garry Avenel, Zou Mou, in The Iris, September, 1841
The distinction hinted at in this rebuke has been observed in English, by professional writers anyway, for close to 200 years.
Synonyms
Examples of contemptible in a Sentence
Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2023
As notable as the president’s more contemptible qualities, but less discussed, is the fact that, among the public, some are apparently just now taking notice.
—Becket Adams, National Review, 16 July 2023
The subsidy demanded from Las Vegas by Major League Baseball and A’s owner John Fisher, whose parents founded The Gap and who has a net worth estimated at $2.2 billion, would be contemptible enough.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2023
More contemptible than pitiful, his only concern when his wife gets murdered is covering his tracks.
—Michael Nordine, Variety, 15 June 2023
Frank Langella, as a befuddled but contemptible Judge Julius Hoffman; Michael Keaton, as a coolly authoritative Ramsey Clark; Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, as a defiant Bobby Seale; and the list goes on.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2021
As observed here last week, the bipartisan unity studiously projected by the January 6 committee’s seven Democrats and two Republicans quickly breaks down when the subject strays from whether Donald Trump is contemptible and condemnable (unanimous, emphatic yes) to questions of what to do about it.
—Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 16 June 2022
The action, by more than half the Republican members of the House and almost a quarter of GOP senators, may rank among the most cynically contrived, morally contemptible, soul-corrupting acts of political degeneracy ever attempted.
—Gerard Baker, WSJ, 4 Jan. 2021
Mom would find the idea of using food for reasons other than nourishment contemptible.
—Irv Erdoscolumnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Feb. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contemptible.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Middle English, "unworthy, despicable," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "despicable, worthless," borrowed from Latin contemptibilis (Medieval Latin also, "contemptuous"), from contemptus, past participle of contemnere "to look down on, show no respect for, despise" + -ibilis -ible — more at contemn
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Articles Related to contemptible
Dictionary Entries Near contemptible
Cite this Entry
“Contemptible.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contemptible. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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