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
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Recent Examples of contempt
And to date, the Republican majority, which has subpoena power, which has the ability to move bills to the floor, which has the ability to hold administration officials in contempt, has shown precisely zero interest in doing that.
—
Michel Martin, NPR, 24 June 2025
Violating the terms of a gang injunction could land someone in contempt of court, a misdemeanor that carries up to a six-month sentence.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 June 2025
But the move can also be seen as yet another tack away from internationalism, and an indication of ultimately self-defeating contempt for international norms and institutions.
—Time, 17 June 2025
Court officials reviewed YouTube footage and charged Troconis with criminal contempt of court, a misdemeanor, on the same day she was convicted of helping her boyfriend execute and cover up his wife’s murder.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Michel Martin, NPR, 24 June 2025
Violating the terms of a gang injunction could land someone in contempt of court, a misdemeanor that carries up to a six-month sentence.
—Sean Emery, Oc Register, 24 June 2025
But the move can also be seen as yet another tack away from internationalism, and an indication of ultimately self-defeating contempt for international norms and institutions.
—Time, 17 June 2025
Court officials reviewed YouTube footage and charged Troconis with criminal contempt of court, a misdemeanor, on the same day she was convicted of helping her boyfriend execute and cover up his wife’s murder.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contempt
Noun
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Nearby residents include Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen, Dan Aykroyd, and John Kerry — as well as another Epstein associate, Alan Dershowitz, who has faced great disdain at the local library.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
16 July 2025
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Back in June, Offerman responded to conservative media figure Michael Flynn Jr., who used a gif of Ron throwing a computer in a dumpster in a Parks and Rec episode to symbolize his disdain for Pride Month.—
Victoria Edel,
People.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
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There’s a great tradition in sports of being driven by a fear, or a hatred, of that feeling.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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She’s been feeling so much hatred, so much anger, so much sadness, so much disappointment these last few episodes.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contempt. Accessed 23 Jul. 2025.
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