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contemptuous

contemptuous

17 7.0
Showing strong dislike and clear disrespect for someone
  • adjective
  • /kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/
translation icon : desdeñoso
  • His contemptuous remarks about her intelligence were hurtful and unnecessary.
  • openly contemptuous

So it's sort of this contemptuous rejection of them.

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Examples

  • Darla threw her a contemptuous glance and turned her eyes back to the road.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Her behaviour today is just contemptuous of this Parliament and of this process.

  • So sweet with me, and so contemptuous of everyone else.

  • If you draw close to them, they are contemptuous of you.

    Academic text (1999)
  • We found the professor to be openly critical, even contemptuous, of most of her students.

    Academic text (2006)
  • The labor and socialist press were particularly contemptuous of student society and culture.

    Academic text (1994)
  • For a moment, he surveys the store and casts contemptuous glances up and down the ruined street.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • Icy scorn glitters in the gray eyes, contemptuous and cruel.

  • Jill shifted her frosty, contemptuous gaze from Sharon Williams to the dean.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • Scalia has castigated the Court for its contemptuous disregard of the democratic principle in several powerful dissents.

    Academic text (1999)

Synonyms

insulting
vscontemptuous
  • Offensive
130 3.0

Being rude or saying things that hurt someone

shows deep dislike as an attitude rather than only using offensive words
disrespectful
vscontemptuous
121 3.0

Not polite to someone, for example interrupting them

involves deeper dislike and disdain rather than mere rudeness or impoliteness
dismissive
vscontemptuous
43 5.6

Acting as if someone or something is not important

expresses active deep dislike rather than simple indifference or ignoring
derogatory
vscontemptuous
39 6.9

Expressing an insulting, disrespectful view of someone or something

is stronger expressing deep contempt rather than merely critical words
pejorative
vscontemptuous
15 8.2

Showing strong dislike of someone or something, often used about words

is a deep feeling rather than only a contempt-expressing term
disdainful
vscontemptuous
8 7.0

Showing that you think someone or something is not worth respect

is about deep dislike feeling rather than proud haughty manner
scornful
vscontemptuous
7 5.1

Showing that you think someone does not deserve respect

is a deep personal feeling rather than an obvious outward show of dislike
disparaging
vscontemptuous
  • Offensive
1 7.0

Showing a low opinion of someone or something

is a deeper feeling of dislike rather than just saying negative things
contumelious
vscontemptuous
  • Offensive
9.9

Being arrogantly rude and openly disrespectful to other people

is a strong dislike without the added rude arrogance or direct insult

Antonyms

150 1.1

Being polite and showing admiration for someone

How Contemptuous

scornful
7 5.1
contemptuous
17 7.0
disdainful
8 7.0
dismissive
43 5.6
disrespectful
121 3.0

Surface Forms

contemptuous positive
contemptuously comparative
contemptuous superlative

Morphology

contemptuous = contempt (transparent) = contempt + uous

The suffix '-uous' is a standard adjectival form, indicating a quality related to 'contempt'.

Etymology

Contemptuous comes from an old Latin verb temnere, which means 'to scorn', and it is the same idea behind the English word contempt or the simple word 'scorn'. So, if someone is contemptuous they show strong dislike and disrespect.