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
In mid-August, VOA plaintiffs asked Lamberth to hold Lake in contempt for failing to comply with the preliminary injunction.
—
Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer warned that anyone defying a congressional subpoena can be held in contempt of Congress and could face jail time.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Anne Gorsuch Burford was held in contempt of Congress for not turning over records related to the Superfund cleanup of the same hazardous waste site, which led to her resignation.
—Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
Paxton’s filing also asked Judge Megan Fahey to hold O’Rourke in contempt of court.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Liam Reilly, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer warned that anyone defying a congressional subpoena can be held in contempt of Congress and could face jail time.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Anne Gorsuch Burford was held in contempt of Congress for not turning over records related to the Superfund cleanup of the same hazardous waste site, which led to her resignation.
—Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
Paxton’s filing also asked Judge Megan Fahey to hold O’Rourke in contempt of court.
—Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contempt
Noun
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Rollins challenged the Brooks Family to a match at Wrestlepalooza, much to Becky’s disdain.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Trump’s disdain for foreign-policy precedent and erratic flip-flops will continue to open opportunities for Xi and Putin to expand their global influence at Washington’s expense.—
Michael Schuman,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Rivalries that are long in tenure and thick with hatred define college sports in the Deep South, where football is second only to faith in some places.—
Quentin Corpuel,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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Examples abound of men with histories of misogyny – often expressed online – who go on to commit violent crimes in the name of their hatred.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contempt. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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