Synonyms for contempt
Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
Related words
- Word family
- contemptible contemptuous contemn
- Phrases
- hold in contempt
Forms
- Plural
- contempts → scorns, opprobriums, derisions, defiances…
Example sentences
- disdain Tom didn't notice the look of disdain on Mary's face.
- scorn Silence is the most perfect expression of scorn.
- derision All Mary has left for Tom is scorn and derision.
- disrespect Sami didn't want to disrespect anybody's religion.
- insolence Your insolence comes from your messianic complex.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| contempt | steady | |
| disdain | rising | |
| scorn | steady | |
| derision | rising | |
| opprobrium | rising | |
| disrespect | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 5 letters
- shame1, scorn1, sneer1, odium
- 6 letters
- infamy3
- 7 letters
- despite2, disdain2, mockery3
- 8 letters
- disgrace2, defiance3, dishonor3, derision3, ignominy4, despisal
- 9 letters
- disregard3, discredit3, dishonour, insolence3, contumely
- 10 letters
- disrespect3, opprobrium4
- 11 letters
- despisement, contemption
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (infamy3 = 3 syllables).
In other languages
- Français
- mépris
- Español
- desprecio
- Deutsch
- Verachtung
- Català
- menyspreu