as in disdain
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
my undying contempt for people who abuse animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of contempt
Frost manages to do the same job without scandal, chaos or contempt.
—
Jj Holmes, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
The former president and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are set to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee later this month after being threatened with contempt of court.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
Facing a potential House vote for criminal contempt, the Clintons relented and agreed to testify in late February.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Last month, a judge in Minneapolis ordered the acting head of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in court, threatening to hold him in contempt for the agency’s violations of judicial orders issued during the ongoing crackdown in Minnesota.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Jj Holmes, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
The former president and his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, are set to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee later this month after being threatened with contempt of court.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 7 Feb. 2026
Facing a potential House vote for criminal contempt, the Clintons relented and agreed to testify in late February.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
Last month, a judge in Minneapolis ordered the acting head of ICE, Todd Lyons, to appear in court, threatening to hold him in contempt for the agency’s violations of judicial orders issued during the ongoing crackdown in Minnesota.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contempt
Noun
-
Over time, some officers showed a boastful disdain for parts of the population they were expected to protect.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
With a firehouse of insults flowing from Washington, the value of dignity rises with people of goodwill, while attracting the disdain of a diminishing mob.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Emily Brontë’s novel is a book that stains — its emotions seep through generations, its hatreds metastasize, its love transforms into something unholy and permanent.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The Talmud teaches that Jerusalem was destroyed not only because of hatred, but because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred fueled by moral absolutism.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contempt. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
