Definitions for contempt
kənˈtɛmptcon·tempt

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. contempt, disdain, scorn, despitenoun

   lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

   "he was held in contempt"; "the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary"

2. contempt, disrespectnoun

   a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous

3. contempt, scornnoun

   open disrespect for a person or thing

4. contemptnoun

   a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body

Wiktionary(2.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. contemptnoun

   The state of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.

2. contemptnoun

   The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.

3. contemptnoun

   Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.

Wikipedia(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Contempt

   Contempt is a pattern of attitudes and behaviour, often towards an individual or group, but sometimes towards an ideology, which has the characteristics of disgust and anger.The word originated in 1393, from the Latin word contemptus meaning "scorn". It is the past participle of contemnere and from com- intensive prefix + temnere "to slight, scorn". Contemptuous appeared in 1529.It is classified among Paul Ekman's seven basic emotions of contempt, anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. Robert C. Solomon places contempt on the same continuum as resentment and anger, and he argues that the differences between the three are that resentment is anger directed towards a higher-status individual; anger is directed towards an equal-status individual; and contempt is anger directed towards a lower-status individual.

Webster Dictionary(1.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contemptnoun

   the act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn

2. Contemptnoun

   the state of being despised; disgrace; shame

3. Contemptnoun

   an act or expression denoting contempt

4. Contemptnoun

   disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority

Freebase(4.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contempt

   Contempt is a 1963 film directed by Jean-Luc Godard, based on the Italian novel Il disprezzo [A Ghost at Noon]. 1954. OCLC 360548. by Alberto Moravia. It stars Brigitte Bardot.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Contempt

   kon-tempt′, n. scorn: disgrace: (law) disregard of the rules or an offence against the dignity of a court (with of, for).—ns. Contemptibil′ity, Contempt′ibleness.—adj. Contempt′ible, despicable.—adv. Contempt′ibly.—adj. Contempt′uous, haughty, scornful.—adv. Contempt′uously.—n. Contempt′uousness. [See Contemn.]

Matched Categories

1. • Discourtesy
   • Disobedience
   • Disrespect
   • Law

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'contempt' in Nouns Frequency: #2573

How to pronounce contempt?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say contempt in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of contempt in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of contempt in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of contempt in a Sentence

1. Albert Einstein:

   To punish me for my contempt for authority, fate made me an authority myself.

2. Mat Staver:

   The ACLU's motion to again hold Kim Davis in contempt reveals that their interest is not the license but rather a marriage license bearing the name of Kim Davis. They want her scalp to hang on the wall as a trophy.

3. John McDonnell:

   He may well be in contempt of parliament or the courts themselves because he's clearly trying to undermine the first letter, and not signing the letter, he's behaving a bit like a spoiled brat, parliament made a decision, he should abide by it.

4. Hilary Benn:

   It takes courage to stand by your principles and your friends when they are attacked, whether in Orlando, Paris or Brussels, doing so makes us stronger and shows our resolve to stand up for our values and our way of life in the face of those who hold both in such murderous contempt.

5. Author Unknown:

   A patient going to a doctor for his first visit was asked, "And whom did you consult before coming to me?""Only the village druggist," was the answer."And what sort of foolish advice did that numbskull give you?" asked the doctor, his tone and manner denoting his contempt for the advice of the layman."Oh," replied his patient, with no malice aforethought, "he told me to come and see you."

Images & Illustrations of contempt

Popularity rank by frequency of use