Dictionary

contemptuous en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs/ (US)
• /kənˈtɛm(p).tʃəs/ (UK)
• /kənˈtɛm(p).tju.əs/ (UK)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /kənˈtɛm(p).tʃu.əs/ (UK)

Etymology

From Latin contemptus (whence contempt) + -ous.

Meanings

1. Showing contempt; expressing disdain; showing a lack of respect.
   • I don't know that guy, but he just gave me a contemptuous look.
   • The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.[…]Can those harmless but refined fellow-diners be the selfish cads whose gluttony and personal appearance so raised your contemptuous wrath on your arrival? 1921, Ben Travers, chapter 5, in A Cuckoo in the Nest, Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Page & Company, published 1925, →OCLC:
   • Sir George burst into a loud fit of contemptuous laughter. 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The Challenge”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 234:
2. (rare) Worthy of contempt; contemptible.
   • Rep. Noble told GCN that she, however, had deep concern "regarding the scandalous sexual exploitation and abuse of young children by adults." Noble has called on the community to "support the efforts of the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in unraveling this contemptuous situation. 1977 December 24, Jim Marko, quoting Elaine Noble, “Committee of Outrage to Protest Arrests”, in Gay Community News, volume 5, number 25, page 1:

Forms

Antonyms

respectful

Deriveds

uncontemptuous · contemptuousness · contemptuously · contemptuosity

Relateds

contemn · contempt

Synonyms

disparaging · disdainful · slighting · dismissive

Translations (30)

fi epäkunnioittava (showing contempt) · ka დამცინავი (showing contempt) · ru надме́нный (showing contempt) · bg надме́нен (showing contempt) · fi halveksiva (showing contempt) · fr contempteur (showing contempt) · ro disprețuitor (showing contempt) · fi halventava (showing contempt) · cmn 輕蔑的 /轻蔑的 (showing contempt) · cmn 侮辱的 (showing contempt) · cs pohrdavý (showing contempt) · bg презри́телен (showing contempt) · pl pogardliwy (showing contempt) · nb foraktelig (showing contempt) · ka აგდებული (showing contempt) · fi halveksuva (showing contempt) · fr méprisant (showing contempt) · fr dédaigneux (showing contempt) · it sdegnoso (showing contempt) · eo malestima (showing contempt) · it sprezzante (showing contempt) · nl minachting (showing contempt) · ja 軽蔑的な (showing contempt) · ru пренебрежи́тельный (showing contempt) · uk знева́жливий (showing contempt) · de respektlos (showing contempt) · cmn 鄙夷的 (showing contempt) · uk прези́рливий (showing contempt) · ru презри́тельный (showing contempt) · mk пре́зирен (showing contempt)