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
And there are domestic mechanisms to try to recover assets sent abroad, including pressuring defendants in the United States, holding individuals in contempt, and suspending passports.
—
Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Rodriguez had been granted immunity but still refused to testify, leading Andrademembreno to hold her in contempt after the first trial, court records show.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
All this while a prince lost his title, an ambassador was fired, and a former president and former first lady seem willing to be in contempt of Congress – which could result in jail time – all over the Epstein files.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, sent the resolutions holding Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress to the full House for a vote.
—Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Marie Sapirie, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Rodriguez had been granted immunity but still refused to testify, leading Andrademembreno to hold her in contempt after the first trial, court records show.
—City News Service, Oc Register, 25 Jan. 2026
All this while a prince lost his title, an ambassador was fired, and a former president and former first lady seem willing to be in contempt of Congress – which could result in jail time – all over the Epstein files.
—Gary Franks, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026
The House Oversight Committee, led by Republicans, sent the resolutions holding Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress to the full House for a vote.
—Alexx Altman-Devilbiss, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contempt
Noun
-
These actions, coupled with her own words, reveal an unacceptable disdain for our constitutional system of checks and balances.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The roots of the crisis lie in the president’s frequently expressed disdain for alliances — NATO in particular.—
Doyle McManus,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Global leaders reflected on rising antisemitism and the need for unity to combat hatred and war, drawing parallels to defeating Nazism in 1945.—
Vanessa Gera,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The annual global event remembers the 6 million Jewish victims and millions of other victims and the commitment to stand against hatred and intolerance.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contempt. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
