contempt

contempt — noun

1. a very strong feeling that a person, action, or idea is worthless and does not d

1.nounC1
Definition

a very strong feeling that a person, action, or idea is worthless and does not deserve any respect at all.

Example

Aarav could not hide his contempt for the manager who had tricked the whole team.

contempt for + person

The senator spoke of the scandal with such contempt that the audience fell silent.

with contempt — prepositional phrase showing manner

Common collocations
  • utter contempt
  • deep contempt
  • complete contempt
  • open contempt
  • pure contempt
Synonyms
  • scorn

    similar strength but focuses more on a mocking, angry rejection rather than cold disregard

  • disdain

    a cooler, more aloof form of contempt; implies you consider something beneath your notice

  • disgust

    focuses on physical or moral revulsion rather than the sense of worthlessness

Antonyms
  • respect

    the opposite feeling of regarding someone or something as valuable

  • admiration

    a feeling of warm approval and respect for someone's qualities

Grammar Patterns

contempt for something/somebody

hold someone in contempt

beneath contempt

Usage Note

Contempt is an uncountable noun and cannot be used with 'a' or in the plural. You feel or show contempt for someone or something. The related adjective is 'contemptuous' ('a contemptuous look'), while 'contemptible' describes the thing that deserves contempt ('a contemptible act').

Common Mistakes

He has a deep contempt for dishonest people.
He has deep contempt for dishonest people.
Contempt is uncountable; do not use an article before it.
She looked at them with contempts.
She looked at them with contempt.
Contempt has no plural form.

2. the attitude or behaviour of someone who considers a particular person or thing

2.nounC1
Definition

the attitude or behaviour of someone who considers a particular person or thing worthless and treats them with disrespect, especially through their actions or how they speak.

Example

The villagers held the dishonest official in contempt for stealing public funds.

hold + in contempt — fixed phrase

Caio showed contempt for the outdated rules by ignoring them completely.

show contempt for

Common collocations
  • hold in contempt
  • beneath contempt
  • have nothing but contempt for
Synonyms
  • look down on

    less formal; suggests you consider yourself superior

  • despise

    a verb with similar intensity, but more about hatred than worthlessness

Antonyms
  • look up to

    to admire and respect someone as a role model

  • value

    to consider someone or something important and worthwhile

Grammar Patterns

have contempt for

feel contempt for

show contempt for

hold someone in contempt

Usage Note

This sense captures the common verb-phrase patterns. 'Beneath contempt' is an intensifying phrase meaning 'so bad or worthless that even contempt is too good for it.' Example: 'His behaviour was beneath contempt.'

Common Mistakes

She has contempt on lazy workers.
She has contempt for lazy workers.
The correct preposition is 'for', not 'on' or 'towards'.

3. the legal offence of showing disrespect to a judge or court, or of failing to fo

3.nounB2
Definition

the legal offence of showing disrespect to a judge or court, or of failing to follow a court's lawful instructions, which is punishable by law.

Example

The judge found Baraka in contempt of court for refusing to reveal his source.

found in contempt of court

A journalist who refuses to name a source can be held in contempt of court.

passive: be held in contempt of court

Common collocations
  • contempt of court
  • direct contempt
  • indirect contempt
  • criminal contempt
  • civil contempt
Synonyms
  • disobedience

    a general term; less specific to court settings and less severe

  • defiance

    open resistance to authority, but not a formal legal charge like contempt of court

Antonyms
  • compliance

    following orders or rules, especially court orders

  • deference

    respectful submission to the authority of a court or judge

Grammar Patterns

contempt of court

in contempt of court

hold someone in contempt of court

Usage Note

'Contempt of court' is a serious legal offence. It covers both 'direct contempt' (disruptive behaviour in the courtroom) and 'indirect contempt' (failing to obey a court order outside the court, such as not paying child support). The term 'contempt' alone in legal contexts usually implies contempt of court.

Common Mistakes

My boss held me in contempt of court for being late to work.
The judge held the witness in contempt of court for refusing to answer.
Contempt of court only applies to legal settings and court authority, not to general situations.
Idioms

familiarity breeds contempt

idiom

When you know someone or something very well, you may start to dislike or disrespect them.

After living together for a year, familiarity bred contempt between the roommates.

Does familiarity breed contempt in long-term relationships, or does it strengthen bonds?

Word family

  • contemptuous
    adjectiveC1
  • contemptuously
    adverbC1
  • contemptible
    adjectiveC1
  • contemn
    verbC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four words form a scale of intensity and coolness. Contempt is the strongest — it combines deep dislike with the conviction that the person or thing has no value at all. Scorn is similarly strong but adds a sense of angry mockery or rejection; you scorn something you openly attack or ridicule. Disdain is cooler and more aloof — you feel you are above the person or thing, so you look down on them with quiet superiority without the emotional heat of scorn. Disrespect is the mildest and most general term; it means a lack of proper respect but does not necessarily carry the strong emotional judgment of contempt. For everyday disagreements, 'disrespect' fits best; for moral outrage, use 'contempt' or 'scorn'; for a cold, superior attitude, use 'disdain'.

scorndisdaindisrespect ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • contempt of court

Adverbs

  • utter contempt
  • complete contempt
  • pure contempt
  • open contempt
  • deep contempt

Phrases

  • beneath contempt
  • hold in contempt
  • nothing but contempt

Prepositions

  • contempt for

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Contempt entered English in the late 1300s from Latin contemptus, meaning 'scorn, disregard'. The Latin noun came from the verb contemnere, meaning 'to despise, to value little', which was formed from com- (an intensifier) and temnere ('to despise, to slight'). The legal sense 'contempt of court' developed in the 1500s in English common law.