Link Centre Dictionary

contempt

con·tempt

UK/kənˈtɛmpt/ US/kʌˈntɛmpt/ fairly common

noun

1.

lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

  • “he was held in contempt”
  • “the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary”
Synonyms
2.
3.

open disrespect for a person or thing

Synonyms
4.

Origin

From Latin contemptus (“scorn”), from contemnō (“to scorn, despise”), from com- + temnō (“to despise”). Displaced native Old English forsewennes.

Phrases

  • beneath contempt Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • contempt of Congress Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • contempt of cop Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • contempt of court Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • contempt of Parliament Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • contempt trap Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • familiarity breeds contempt Terms derived from contempt (noun)
  • hold in contempt Terms derived from contempt (noun)

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

Narrower terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.