self-contempt

noun

self-con·​tempt ˌself-kən-ˈtem(p)t How to pronounce self-contempt (audio)
plural self-contempts
: contempt for oneself
Every second year, I resolve to lose weight, only to fail almost instantly, which tips me into a period of self-contempt which inevitably leads to more eating.Richard Glover

Examples of self-contempt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Robby’s self-contempt and his fears of what the PTMC could become without him are overwhelming his character — and the show too. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026 If my childhood had been spent in the constant pursuit of being better, the seeds of perfectionism had blossomed into self-contempt. Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-contempt was in 1563

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Cite this Entry

“Self-contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-contempt. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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