Some words describe a simple feeling, while others capture a complicated attitude toward another person. Contempt is one of those words. It goes beyond ordinary dislike: it suggests that someone or something is viewed as unworthy of respect, consideration, or approval.
If you have seen phrases such as hold someone in contempt, treat someone with contempt, or contempt of court, the meaning can become confusing because the word is used in both everyday English and legal language. This guide explains contempt meaning in simple English, with clear examples, synonyms, antonyms, common expressions, pronunciation, and useful distinctions for English learners.
Meaning & Definition
Contempt is a noun meaning a strong feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect, consideration, or approval. In simple words, if you have contempt for someone, you look down on that person and feel that they do not deserve your respect.
For example, if someone says, “She treated the dishonest businessman with contempt,” it means she strongly disapproved of him and regarded him as unworthy of respect. Cambridge similarly defines contempt as a strong feeling of dislike combined with a lack of respect.
Contempt can also refer to a lack of fear or respect for something that normally deserves respect. For example, someone who deliberately ignores serious safety rules may be described as showing contempt for public safety. Merriam-Webster includes this broader sense in its definition.
Background
The word contempt comes from Latin contemnere, meaning to despise or scorn. It entered English through Middle English and Anglo-French. Merriam-Webster records its first known English use in the 14th century.
The basic idea has remained remarkably consistent: treating a person, idea, rule, or authority as unworthy of respect. Over time, the word developed important uses in both everyday English and law. This is why modern learners may encounter contempt in emotional descriptions such as “a look of contempt” as well as formal expressions such as “contempt of court.”
Usage in Different Contexts
Contempt in Everyday English
In everyday English, contempt usually describes an intense attitude of disrespect or disdain. It is stronger than simply saying that you dislike someone. A person showing contempt may believe that another person is inferior, foolish, dishonest, or unworthy of consideration.
For example, “He spoke about his former employer with contempt” means he spoke about the employer with strong disrespect. You can also say, “She looked at him with contempt,” meaning her expression communicated that she considered him beneath her respect. Oxford lists common patterns such as contempt for, with contempt, and hold someone in contempt.
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Contempt for Someone or Something
The expression contempt for someone or something means having a strong feeling of disrespect toward that person or thing.
For example:
- She has contempt for dishonest politicians.
- He showed contempt for the rules.
- They expressed contempt for the unfair decision.
- She felt contempt for people who deliberately lied.
Notice that contempt can be directed at a person, group, idea, behavior, rule, authority, or value. It does not always mean hatred. The central idea is that the target is considered undeserving of respect or worth.
What Does It Mean to Hold Someone in Contempt?
To hold someone in contempt means to have a strong feeling of disrespect or disapproval toward them. It can be used in ordinary English as well as in legal language.
For example, “I hold people who exploit children in contempt” means that I have profound disrespect for such people. In a legal setting, however, being held in contempt has a more specific meaning involving disobedience or disrespect toward a court or other legal authority.
Contempt in a Relationship
In relationships, contempt can describe communication or behavior that treats a partner as inferior, foolish, or unworthy of respect. It may appear through mocking, insulting, sneering, hostile sarcasm, or dismissive facial expressions.
For example, saying “You never do anything right” in a deliberately belittling way can communicate contempt rather than ordinary disagreement. Relationship research and educational resources commonly distinguish contempt from ordinary criticism because contempt adds an attitude of superiority or disrespect. The Gottman Institute describes contempt as communication that comes from a relative position of superiority.
Contempt of Court
Contempt of court is the legal use of the word. It generally refers to behavior involving disobedience or open disrespect toward a court, judge, or judicial authority.
For example, deliberately refusing to obey a court order may result in a person being held in contempt. The exact rules and consequences vary by legal system, so legal definitions should not be treated as identical in every country. Merriam-Webster distinguishes civil and criminal contempt and explains that legal contempt can involve disobedience, disruption, or open disrespect.
Contempt Examples in Sentences
Learning the word through sentences is one of the easiest ways for English learners to understand its meaning.
- She looked at the dishonest man with contempt.
- He has complete contempt for people who abuse their power.
- The students showed contempt for the unfair rule.
- She spoke about her former colleague with contempt.
- His expression showed obvious contempt.
- They treated the dishonest politician with contempt.
- The coach had little patience for players who showed contempt for the rules.
- She felt contempt for his cruel behavior.
- He was held in contempt after refusing to obey the court’s order.
- The company showed contempt for basic safety standards.
These examples demonstrate an important pattern: contempt commonly appears with for, with, and hold. Oxford and Cambridge both identify these as important usage patterns.
Contempt Synonyms
Common synonyms for contempt include disdain, scorn, disrespect, derision, disgust, and hatred. However, these words are not always interchangeable.
Disdain is especially close to contempt and often suggests that someone considers another person or thing beneath them. Scorn can suggest open or expressed contempt. Disrespect is broader and simply means a lack of respect. Hatred usually describes a much stronger feeling of intense hostility or aversion. Merriam-Webster lists disdain, hatred, disgust, distaste, scorn, hostility, and other related terms in its thesaurus.
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Contempt Antonyms
The clearest opposite of contempt is respect. Other related antonyms include:
- admiration
- esteem
- appreciation
- honor
- reverence
- regard
For example, “She treated her teacher with contempt” communicates strong disrespect, while “She treated her teacher with respect” communicates the opposite attitude.
The contrast is useful for English learners because contempt is not simply the absence of positive feelings. It usually carries an active sense of looking down on someone or considering them unworthy of respect.
Contempt vs. Disrespect
Contempt and disrespect are closely related, but contempt is usually more emotionally intense. Disrespect means failing to show appropriate respect or courtesy. Contempt adds the idea that someone or something is considered inferior, worthless, or beneath consideration.
For example, interrupting someone repeatedly can be disrespectful. Saying, “Your opinion is worthless; I don’t even care what you think,” can communicate contempt because it expresses both disrespect and a judgment that the person is beneath consideration.
Contempt vs. Hatred
Contempt is not exactly the same as hatred. Hatred describes an intense dislike or hostility, while contempt focuses more strongly on disrespect and the belief that someone or something is inferior or unworthy.
You can hate someone while still recognizing their abilities or importance. Contempt, by contrast, often carries a dismissive or superior attitude. This is why “I have contempt for his dishonest behavior” emphasizes disapproval and lack of respect rather than simply saying “I hate him.”
Contempt vs. Disdain vs. Scorn
These three words overlap significantly. Contempt generally combines strong disrespect with a sense that the target is unworthy. Disdain often emphasizes a feeling of superiority or the belief that something is beneath consideration. Scorn commonly suggests openly expressed contempt or ridicule.
For example, “She looked at the proposal with disdain” suggests that she considered it beneath her consideration. “He spoke with scorn” suggests that his words openly communicated ridicule or disrespect. In many everyday sentences, contempt and disdain can be substituted without dramatically changing the meaning, but their tone can differ slightly.
Contemptuous Meaning
Contemptuous is an adjective meaning showing or expressing contempt. If someone’s words, voice, facial expression, or behavior is contemptuous, it communicates disrespect or scorn.
For example:
- She gave him a contemptuous smile.
- His contemptuous tone offended everyone.
- He made a contemptuous remark about the proposal.
The important distinction is that contempt is the feeling or attitude, while contemptuous describes something that shows that feeling. Oxford defines contemptuous as feeling or showing that you have no respect for someone or something.
Contemptible Meaning
Contemptible means deserving contempt. This is different from contemptuous.
Compare:
- Contempt: the feeling of strong disrespect.
- Contemptuous: showing that disrespect.
- Contemptible: deserving that disrespect.
For example, “His behavior was contemptible” means his behavior was so unacceptable or morally bad that it deserves strong disapproval. By contrast, “His tone was contemptuous” means his tone showed strong disrespect toward someone.
Remembering these three related forms can help English learners avoid a common vocabulary mistake.
Familiarity Breeds Contempt Meaning
The expression familiarity breeds contempt is a traditional saying meaning that becoming extremely familiar with someone or something can sometimes cause you to lose respect or appreciation for them.
For example, people may initially admire a coworker but gradually become irritated with that person after working together every day. The expression does not mean that familiarity always produces contempt. Instead, it describes a possible tendency for constant exposure to reveal habits, weaknesses, or irritating qualities and reduce admiration. Oxford lists familiarity breeds contempt as an established idiom.
Common Collocations With Contempt
Learning common word combinations makes your English sound more natural. Some useful collocations include:
- deep contempt
- complete contempt
- utter contempt
- feel contempt
- have contempt for
- hold someone in contempt
- show contempt
- treat someone with contempt
- look at someone with contempt
- contempt for authority
- contempt of court
For example, “She has deep contempt for corruption” sounds natural, while “She has deep contempt to corruption” does not. Cambridge and Oxford both provide several of these common patterns in their dictionary entries.
Is Contempt a Noun or an Adjective?
Contempt is primarily a noun. It names a feeling, attitude, or legal condition.
Example: “He showed contempt for the rules.”
The related adjective is contemptuous, meaning showing contempt.
Example: “He gave a contemptuous reply.”
Another related adjective is contemptible, meaning deserving contempt.
Example: “The cruel act was contemptible.”
This distinction is particularly useful for English learners because using contempt as though it were a normal modern verb can sound incorrect. Merriam-Webster notes that the verb contempt is archaic, while contemn exists but is uncommon.
How to Pronounce Contempt
Contempt is pronounced approximately:
kuhn-TEMPT
IPA: /kənˈtempt/
The stress falls on the second syllable: TEMPT.
The first part is weak, similar to the sound in condition or complete. The second part sounds like the word tempt. Practicing the word in a phrase can make pronunciation easier:
- contempt for others
- with contempt
- held in contempt
- complete contempt
Cambridge and Oxford both list the pronunciation as /kənˈtempt/.
Simple Way to Remember Contempt
A useful memory trick is:
Contempt = strong disrespect + looking down on someone or something.
Imagine someone looking at another person and thinking, “You are beneath my respect.” That attitude captures the central idea of contempt.
If you want to understand any meaning, definition, or explanation, you can explore Meaning Wisdom for clear and simple explanations.
Why Contempt Is Stronger Than Ordinary Dislike
Dislike simply means that you do not like something. Contempt goes further because it often includes judgment and disrespect.
For example, “I dislike that movie” is a simple personal preference. “I have contempt for the dishonest behavior in that movie” expresses a much stronger moral or dismissive reaction. The speaker is not merely saying the behavior is unpleasant; they are suggesting that it is unworthy of respect.
This difference is important when learning English because choosing contempt instead of dislike can dramatically increase the emotional strength of a sentence.
Quick Summary
Contempt means a strong feeling of disrespect toward someone or something considered unworthy, inferior, or undeserving of respect. It is a noun and is commonly used with for, with, and hold in contempt.
The word has both everyday and legal meanings. In everyday English, it describes an attitude of strong disrespect or disdain. In law, contempt of court refers to certain forms of disobedience or disrespect toward judicial authority. Related words include disdain, scorn, disrespect, contemptuous, and contemptible.
Understanding these distinctions will help you use contempt accurately and naturally.
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FAQ
What does contempt mean in simple words?
Contempt means strong disrespect. It describes the feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or consideration. It often includes the idea of looking down on the person or thing.
What is an example of contempt?
“She looked at the dishonest businessman with contempt” is an example. It means she strongly disapproved of him and regarded him as unworthy of respect.
What does it mean to have contempt for someone?
To have contempt for someone means to strongly disrespect that person and consider them inferior, unworthy, or undeserving of respect.
What does hold someone in contempt mean?
To hold someone in contempt means to have a strong feeling of disrespect or disapproval toward them. In legal language, being held in contempt can refer to disobeying or disrespecting a court or its authority.
Is contempt the same as hatred?
No. Hatred focuses on intense dislike or hostility, while contempt emphasizes disrespect and the belief that someone or something is beneath consideration. The two feelings can overlap but are not identical.
Is contempt the same as disrespect?
Not exactly. Disrespect means a lack of respect, while contempt is generally stronger and can include a feeling that the other person is inferior or unworthy of respect.
What is a synonym for contempt?
Common synonyms include disdain, scorn, disrespect, disgust, derision, and hatred. The best synonym depends on the context.
What is the opposite of contempt?
The main opposite of contempt is respect. Other possible opposites include admiration, esteem, honor, appreciation, and reverence.
What does contemptuous mean?
Contemptuous means showing or expressing contempt. A contemptuous expression, tone, or comment communicates strong disrespect or scorn.
What does contemptible mean?
Contemptible means deserving contempt. If something is described as contemptible, the speaker considers it extremely unacceptable, disgraceful, or unworthy of respect.
What does contempt of court mean?
Contempt of court is a legal term for certain behavior involving disobedience or open disrespect toward a court, judge, or judicial authority. The precise definition and penalties depend on the legal system involved.
What does familiarity breeds contempt mean?
It means that becoming very familiar with someone or something can sometimes cause you to lose respect or admiration for them. It is a traditional English saying.
How do you use contempt in a sentence?
A natural example is: “She has deep contempt for people who abuse their power.” Another is: “He looked at the proposal with contempt.”
Is contempt a noun?
Yes. Contempt is primarily a noun. The related adjective contemptuous means showing contempt, while contemptible means deserving contempt.
How do you pronounce contempt?
Contempt is pronounced kuhn-TEMPT, with the main stress on the second syllable. Its IPA pronunciation is /kənˈtempt/.
