rhizoverbBeta
DictionarycontemptibleDeserving scorn
adjective

contemptible

kuhn-TEMP-tuh-buhl/kənˈtemptəbl/

Deserving scorn or strong disapproval.

Deliberately crushing the child's sandcastle is a contemptible act of cruelty.

An adult deliberately crushes a child's sandcastle while laughing; the crying child and another adult's disgust make the cruelty visibly deserving of scorn.
Etymology
contemptLatinto scorn, despise
+ibleLatincapable or worthy of

The ending turns “despise” into a judgment of worthiness: a contemptible action or person is regarded as deserving scorn.

In context

Prof. Sam Vaknin42:13
any vulnerability that cannot be leveraged and used and abused and exploited to obtain something some goal is is contemptible is disdained is rejected
Contemptuous Narcissist (Starts 21:45), Contemptible You, Psychopath Celebrates

More examples

  • She calls the company's exploitation of desperate workers contemptible.
  • His contemptible lies cost an innocent person her job.
  • Mocking a child for asking questions is contemptible.

Forms

contemptible

contemptibly adverb — In a way that deserves scorn.

Similar words

despicable
Emphasizes intense disgust at someone's character or behavior.
deplorable
Emphasizes strong disapproval without necessarily expressing personal scorn.