Contempt
/kənˈtempt/
Definitions
The feeling of regarding someone or something as worthless or deserving of scorn.
/kənˈtempt/
A feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect or consideration.
Her contempt for the rules was evident in her behavior.
💡 Simply: Imagine you see someone cutting in line, and you think, 'Ugh, that's so rude!' That feeling of thinking they're not worth your respect is contempt. It's like when you think something is totally lame.
👶 For kids: It's like when you think someone is bad or not important and you don't like them.
More Examples
The book revealed his deep contempt for the ruling class.
He viewed his former colleagues with a mixture of pity and contempt.
How It's Used
"He showed nothing but contempt for those who disagreed with him."
"The politician was accused of holding the voters in contempt."
Idioms & expressions
to hold someone in contempt
To consider someone to be worthy of no respect or consideration; to despise them.
"The judge held the defendant in contempt for disrupting the court proceedings."
contempt of court
The offense of being disobedient to or disrespectful of a court of law and its officers.
"The lawyer was charged with contempt of court for refusing to answer a judge's question."
From Latin *contemptus*, past participle of *contemnere* 'to despise', from *con-* 'together, thoroughly' + *temnere* 'to despise'.
Used since the late 14th century. It gained increasing prominence in legal and philosophical contexts during the 17th-19th centuries.
Memory tip
Think of a 'temp' who is beneath your respect.