as in to disdain
to show contempt for
arrogant critics who contemn the general public's taste in art
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Recent Examples of contemn
Consequently, the Sadrists were contemned and discounted by Iraq’s liberal elite who form the core of the ICP.
—
Benedict Robin, Washington Post, 7 June 2018
Benedict Robin, Washington Post, 7 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemn
Verb
-
White supremacy, which is very much alive in the land — turn on the news — disdains every people of color.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Khamenei was born into poverty and outwardly disdains pomp, cultivating an image of pious frugality.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
We should all be so hated by Hollywood!—
Nate Jones,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2026
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Even though the audience hated it, Susan and I loved it.—
Jeremy Helligar,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Bruins continued to disrespect his offense despite his constant reminders.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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Compelled to exact revenge upon those who dare to disrespect her idol on social media, Dre carves a bloody path of obsession all the way to the singer’s doorstep.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The production reimagines the titular character as Alice, a novelist who despises hollow contemporary mantras and faces backlash for speaking her mind.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The talent to look into a mirror and not despise the person staring at me.—
Keith McNally,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
If Damsky returns to law school, some classmates will treat him as a social pariah who deserves scorn.—
Conor Friedersdorf,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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Like a lot of messy divorces, this started with a wandering eye, a lover scorned and boils down to the money.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contemn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemn. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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