What does Contempt mean?

Definitions for Contempt
kənˈtɛmptcon·tempt

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word Contempt.

Princeton's WordNet

  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

  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 Dictionary

  1. CONTEMPTnoun

    Etymology: contemptus, Latin.

    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.

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

Wikipedia

  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.

ChatGPT

  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 Dictionary

  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

Wikidata

  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

  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.]

British National Corpus

  1. Nouns Frequency

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

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

How to pronounce Contempt?

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. Secretary Wilkie:

    Once again the halls of Congress reverberate with odes to rugged individualism, state sovereignty, and contempt for the centralized super-state, these are bloodless battles Jefferson Davis could never fight but, they are no less vital for the future of American civilization. As our cities decay and our standards and spiritual traditions deteriorate, America is searching for a better way. Walker Percy urged us to look South to recover community, stability, and sense of place in God's order which we have regrettably lost. That is a tall proposition but it is certainly one Jefferson Davis would understand and certainly one for which Jefferson Davis would fight.

  2. Mark Meadows:

    All of that came to an agreement where we felt like not doing a privileged motion today would be most prudent... and yet brings us all together the first week in September if they do not comply, the speaker is willing to support Chairman Goodlatte in a contempt process if the agreed upon documents are not delivered.

  3. President Trump:

    The world has received North Korea’s latest message loud and clear: this regime has signaled its contempt for its neighbors, for all members of the United Nations, and for minimum standards of acceptable international behavior.

  4. Mark Twain:

    Familiarity breeds contempt - and children.

  5. 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.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

Contempt#10000#17209#100000

Translations for Contempt

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • احتقار, ازدراءArabic
  • пренебрежение, неуважение, презрениеBulgarian
  • ponížení, opovržení, despekt, pohrdání, přezíráníCzech
  • Beamtenbeleidigung, Verachtung, Blamage, Schande, MißachtungGerman
  • desgracia, desprecio, desacato, desdén, deshonra, vergüenzaSpanish
  • تحقیرPersian
  • kunniattomuus, halveksinta, ylenkatseFinnish
  • outrage, méprisFrench
  • בוזHebrew
  • निंदाHindi
  • fyrirlitning, óvirðingIcelandic
  • disprezzoItalian
  • בוזHebrew
  • 侮辱, 軽蔑, 侮蔑Japanese
  • ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರKannada
  • പുച്‌ഛംMalayalam
  • minachting, verachtingDutch
  • foraktNorwegian
  • obraza, pogarda, lekceważeniePolish
  • desprezo, desdém, contempto, desacatoPortuguese
  • презрение, пренебрежение, бесчестие, позор, неуважениеRussian
  • nadutost, nadmenost, prezrivost, prezirSerbo-Croatian
  • missnöje, misshag, missaktning, förakt, avsmakSwedish
  • அவமதிப்புTamil
  • ดูถูกThai
  • küçümsemekTurkish
  • nestümVolapük
  • 鄙視Chinese

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"Contempt." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 31 Jan. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/Contempt>.

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