contempt

[kuhn-tempt]

noun

1. the feeling with which a person regards anything considered mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn.

2. the state of being despised; dishonor; disgrace.

3. Law.

   1. willful disobedience to or open disrespect for the rules or orders of a court contempt of court or legislative body.

   2. an act showing such disrespect.

contempt

/ kənˈtɛmpt /

noun

1. the attitude or feeling of a person towards a person or thing that he considers worthless or despicable; scorn

2. the state of being scorned; disgrace (esp in the phrase hold in contempt )

3. wilful disregard of or disrespect for the authority of a court of law or legislative body

   contempt of court

Other Word Forms

• self-contempt noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of contempt¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin contemptus “despising, scorn,” noun derivative of contemnere “to despise, scorn”; contemn

Word History and Origins

Origin of contempt¹

C14: from Latin contemptus a despising, from contemnere to _contemn

Idioms and Phrases

see familiarity breeds contempt.

Synonym Study

contempt , disdain , scorn imply strong feelings of disapproval and aversion toward what seems base, mean, or worthless. contempt is disapproval tinged with disgust: to feel contempt for a weakling . disdain is a feeling that a person or thing is beneath one's dignity and unworthy of one's notice, respect, or concern: a disdain for crooked dealing . scorn denotes open or undisguised contempt often combined with derision: He showed only scorn for those who were not as ambitious as himself.

Example Sentences

Roy once spent a day in jail for contempt of court.

From BBC

Speaking to Parliament's Constitution Committee on Wednesday morning, she said no parliamentarian should be "risking a contempt and the possibility of a murderer walking free".

From BBC

Earlier this week, he ordered Lake to provide sworn testimony at a deposition and threatened to hold her in contempt for going against court orders.

From Los Angeles Times

For a while, they stick together mostly to stick it to her, in defiance of the fact that contempt is the No. 1 indicator of divorce.

From Los Angeles Times

His conduct in court showed his contempt for authority.

From BBC

Related Words

• antipathy 
• condescension 
• defiance 
• derision 
• disdain 
• disregard 
• disrespect 
• distaste 
• hatred 
• malice 
• mockery 
• neglect 
• ridicule 
• scorn