Synonyms of contempt

contempt

noun

kən-ˈtem(p)t 

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

• disdain
• hatred
• disgust
• distaste
• scorn
• malice
• hate
• hostility
• hatefulness
• despite
• contemptuousness
• resentment
• jealousy
• misprision
• despisement
• spite
• loathing
• grudge
• revulsion
• abhorrence
• meanness
• despitefulness
• detestation
• malevolence
• animosity
• bitterness
• repugnance
• enmity
• condemnation
• malignity
• repulsion
• ridicule
• malignancy
• antagonism
• vindictiveness
• abomination
• odium
• antipathy
• maliciousness
• disparagement
• execration
• spitefulness
• depreciation
• rancor
• lovelessness
• derision
• bile
• pique
• virulence
• abuse
• censure
• invidiousness
• aversion
• jaundice
• venom
• gall
• vitriol
• denunciation
• vituperation
• invective
• horror
• detraction
• spleen
• mockery
• aspersion
• belittlement
• deprecation
• diminishment
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respect
• admiration
• esteem
• regard
• favor
• estimation
• acceptance
• tolerance
• reverence
• deference
• worship
• adoration
• veneration
• idolatry
• love
• adulation
• affection
• glorification
• fondness
• liking
• deification
• fancy
• idolization
• lionization

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contempt

One of the joys of Air, down to the breathy purity of its title, is its contempt for design—an easy target, but one for which Kracht has sharpened his blade. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026

Apple is hoping the Supreme Court will reverse a contempt finding that threatens to block the tech giant from charging high commission fees when developers divert iPhone users to non-Apple payment methods for app purchases. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026

Judge Tony Graf ruled June 26 that some of Ballard's comments did violate the order and found him in civil contempt, but declined to stop the prosecution from pursuing the death penalty. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 June 2026

With an $800 daily fine soon going into effect over her 2024 civil contempt ruling, Fox News alum Catherine Herridge‘s legal team has petitioned for a stay after she was ordered to reveal her sources for her 2017 stories about Yanping Chen. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 June 2026