noun
contempt
kun-TEMPT/kənˈtempt/
Strong disrespect for a person or that person's authority.
The young man's sneer and dismissive gesture show his contempt.
Etymology
Latin contemptus named scorn or despising: treating someone or something as worthless or beneath respect. Its deeper derivation is disputed.
In context
inhabited the mainstream media who inhabited Hollywood is that the cocktail parties they would talk about flyover countries if these were some type of heathens or that they were beneath contempt
More examples
- She makes no effort to hide her contempt for her boss.
- He treats the new manager with open contempt.
- The judge holds the witness in contempt for refusing to answer.
Forms
contemptuous adjective — Showing strong disrespect or scorn.
contemptible adjective — Deserving strong disrespect or scorn.
Similar words
- scorn
- Often emphasizes openly mocking or rejecting someone as worthless.
- disdain
- Emphasizes viewing someone as beneath your attention or respect.
- disrespect
- Covers milder failures of courtesy as well as strong disregard.