contempt

Intermediatezipf 3.74

Pronunciation

/kənˈtɛmpt/(kun-TEMPT)

Part of speech

nounformal

Chinese

蔑视；鄙视；（法律）藐视

Definition

The feeling that someone or something is beneath consideration or worthless; lack of respect; (legal) disobedience of a court order.

Word family

  • contemptuous/kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/(adj)轻蔑的
  • contemptible/kənˈtɛmptɪbl/(adj)可鄙的

Collocations

  • hold in contempt
  • contempt of court
  • utter contempt
  • beneath contempt
  • treat with contempt

Examples

  1. 1.She looked at the shoddy workmanship with undisguised contempt. (disdain)
  2. 2.The witness was held in contempt of court for refusing to answer questions. (legal)

Synonyms

  • scorn/skɔːrn/— open disrespect and disdain
  • disdain/dɪsˈdeɪn/— the feeling that someone is unworthy
  • derision/dɪˈrɪʒən/— contempt expressed through ridicule

Etymology

from Latin "contemptus" (scorn) — "contemnere" (to despise) — con- (intensive) + temnere (to scorn)