CONTUMELIOUS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

contumelious

adjective

ˌkän-tü-ˈmē-lē-əs

Definition of contumelious

as in abusive

marked by harsh insulting language a well-reasoned thesis that merited more than just a scornful, contumelious response

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for contumelious

Adjective

Advocates Against Family Violence in Canyon County is available at 208-459-4779 for anyone in need of help or shelter in an abusive relationship.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
Animal rights activists have argued in favor of banning the industry for more than two decades, calling the work dangerous and inherently abusive to the equines.

— Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of abusive

Adjective

And the scant records around the outrageous boondoggle that poured more than $1 billion into a hellhole immigrant-detention camp in the Everglades point to him as the key engineer.

— Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Kate currently lives in the wilds of Connecticut with her husband, two sons, and a truly outrageous number of pets.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of outrageous

Adjective

In Russia, soldiers die at the front by the hundreds of thousands while politically compliant billionaires accumulate obscene fortunes.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 2026
At the next timeout, an announcement was made asking fans to refrain from obscene chants.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of obscene

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.

Browse Nearby Words

contumacy

contumelious

contuse

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“Contumelious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contumelious. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of contumelious

adjective

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