as in abusive
marked by harsh insulting language
a well-reasoned thesis that merited more than just a scornful, contumelious response
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contumelious
Adjective
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Lawyers and advocates for a woman charged with killing her abusive ex-boyfriend railed against prosecutors’ offer of a plea deal and probation Tuesday and renewed their calls for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to drop the charges altogether.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026 -
In her new memoir You With the Sad Eyes, published Tuesday, the Married…With Children actress reflects on the long-term relationship with an abusive boyfriend that began in her late teens.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Prestianni, who has denied racially insulting Vinícius and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended for one match by UEFA and did not play in the second leg.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
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According to the Tourette Association of America, between 10 and 15% of people living with the disorder have vocal tics that may include disturbing, insulting or inappropriate language, including swear words and slurs.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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If the clothes Kutcher’s Byron Forst wears are occasionally outrageous, the fashion sense exhibited by his wife Franny (Isabella Rossellini) is positively insane.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
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All of it was outrageous, and also representative of what happens in Russia.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Guests will enjoy the experience free from disruptive behavior, foul language, obscene gestures, fighting, unruly conduct or inconsiderate actions.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
2 Mar. 2026
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Davidson has Tourette's with Coprolalia, which involves involuntary outbursts of obscene words or socially inappropriate and derogatory remarks, according to the Tourette Association of America.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Honor is not, in Mr. Sommers’s view, without its opprobrious aspects, not least its association with violence.—
Joseph Epstein,
WSJ,
3 Aug. 2018
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Cite this Entry
“Contumelious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contumelious. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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