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Glite Dictionary
to hold in contempt

to hold in contempt

23 7.8
To feel strong dislike and no respect for someone or something
  • phrasal verb
  • /hoʊld ɪn kənˈtɛmpt/
translation icon : despreciar
  • If you continue to disrespect the rules, you may be held in contempt by the committee.
  • held in contempt of court

Examples

  • Most voters assume politicians (and other elitists) hold them in some contempt already.

    Blog text (20)

  • JUDGE: I will hold you in contempt.

    Southpaw (2015)

  • I will hold him in contempt of court.

    Where’s Poppa? (1970)

  • Stand down, counselor, or I will hold you in contempt.

    The Conspirator (2011)

  • JUDGE: Sibota, I will hold you in contempt.

    American Made (2017)

  • One more outburst, and I'll hold you in contempt.

    Blind Date (1987)

  • Romney claims to love America, but he holds in contempt almost half of Americans.

    Blog text (13)

  • So Trump has now been held in contempt as part of a fraud investigation in which he claims he doesn't have the documents that have been subpoenaed.

  • The judge decided to hold in contempt anyone who disrespects the court's authority.

  • He was held in contempt for his rude remarks during the meeting.

Synonyms

to despise
vsto hold in contempt
192 4.9

To strongly dislike and have no respect for someone or something

is focused on strong disrespectful feeling rather than only dislike
to disrespect
vsto hold in contempt
115 3.5

To show a lack of respect for someone

is a stronger inner negative feeling rather than plain rude behaviour
to look down on
vsto hold in contempt
  • Offensive
53 3.7

Think you are better than someone and treat them as less important

is the inner strong negative feeling rather than social superiority alone
to scorn
vsto hold in contempt
51 5.5

To show dislike and no respect for someone or something

is mainly about feeling strong negative regard rather than active rejection
to deride
vsto hold in contempt
26 7.8

To make fun of someone in a cruel way

is the underlying strong feeling of negative regard rather than the act of mockery
to abhor
vsto hold in contempt
26 7.8

To hate something very much

is focused on contempt and negative regard rather than intense hatred or disgust
to disdain
vsto hold in contempt
15 6.4

To treat a person or thing as not worthy of respect

is the inner strong negative feeling rather than only an outward act
to turn up one's nose
vsto hold in contempt
3 7.5

To show you think something is not good enough

is the internal strong feeling of disrespect rather than a single showy gesture
to disfavor
vsto hold in contempt
  • US
1 5.7

To dislike and not support people or things

is a stronger emotional negative feeling and open rejection rather than mild disapproval
to contemn
vsto hold in contempt
  • Literature
1 9.9

To treat someone as unimportant and show strong dislike for them

is the everyday strong feeling of negative regard rather than formal judgment
to disesteem
vsto hold in contempt
9.9

Show little respect for someone or something

is stronger and more active in showing negative regard
to bemock
vsto hold in contempt
  • Offensive
9.9

To make fun of someone in a cruel way

is the core strong feeling of negative regard rather than just mocking behaviour

Antonyms

to admire
743 1.6

To feel respect and pleasure when you look at someone or something

How Respectful

to respect
∞ 1.0
to disapprove
94 2.9
to dislike
204 1.0
to hold in contempt
23 7.8

Surface Forms

hold in contempt infinitive
holding in contempt present participle
holds in contempt third person singular
held in contempt past
held in contempt past participle

Morphology

hold + in + contempt

The meaning is directly compositional: 'hold' (to have or express), 'in' (in a state of), and 'contempt' (disdain) combine to yield 'to regard with strong disdain.' This is a common, cross‑linguistic opinion/state construction, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Hold in contempt comes from a simple image: you hold someone in your thoughts with contempt, as if they are not worth respect and you 'look down on' them. So, it means 'to strongly dislike or disrespect someone'.