Definitions for contempt
kənˈtɛmptcon·tempt

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

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

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.3 / 3 votes

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.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. CONTEMPTnoun

   Etymology: contemptus, Latin.

   1. The act of despising others; slight regard; scorn.

   It was neither in contempt nor pride that I did not bow. Esth.

   The shame of being miserable,
   Exposes men to scorn and base contempt,
   Even from their nearest friends. John Denham.

   There is no action in the behaviour of one man towards another, of which human nature is more impatient than of contempt; it being a thing made up of these two ingredients, an undervaluing of a man, upon a belief of his utter uselessness and inability, and a spiteful endeavour to engage the rest of the world in the same belief and slight esteem of him. Robert South, Sermons.

   His friend smil’d scornful, and with proud contempt
   Rejects as idle what his fellow dreamt. John Dryden, Fables.

   2. The state of being despised; vileness.

   The place was like to come unto contempt. 2 Mac. iii. 18.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contempt

   Contempt refers to a strong feeling of disapproval or disdain towards someone or something considered inferior, worthless, or unworthy. It can also describe the act of disrespecting or disobeying authority, such as a court of law.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

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

FreebaseRate this definition:4.0 / 1 vote

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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. Margaret Mead:

   The contempt for law and the contempt for the human consequences of lawbreaking go from the bottom to the top of American society.

2. Anthony Bourdain:

   I will never eat in Alessandro Borgognone restaurant. I have utter contempt for Alessandro Borgognone, utter and complete contempt.

3. Victor Hugo:

   So different are the colours of life, as we look forward to the future, or backward to the past and so different the opinions and sentiments which this contrariety of appearance naturally produces, that the conversation of the old and young ends generally with contempt or pity on either side.

4. Kahlil Gibran:

   What is this world that is hastening me toward I know not what, viewing me with contempt

5. Senate Republicans:

   The State of the Union is hurting because of the occupant of the White House, who consistently demonstrates contempt for the American people, contempt for Congress, and contempt for our constitution - strong-arming a sham impeachment trial in The Senate. This presidency is not legitimate.

Popularity rank by frequency of use