in contempt

phrase

: in the state of having been found guilty of the offense of contempt
refused to appear and was held in contempt

Examples of in contempt in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Ormond’s lawyers asked the judge in the case to issue an arrest warrant and to hold Ovitz in contempt. — Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026 The union representing 30,000 Bureau of Prisons employees is asking a federal judge to hold the agency in contempt, alleging that prison leadership has refused to follow the court's order to immediately restore its collective bargaining agreement. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 People who violate the rules can be found in contempt of court, which generally can be punished with up to six months in jail. — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026 In February, the judge in the Meta social media addiction trial in Los Angeles threatened to hold anyone using AI smart glasses during CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony in contempt of court. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for in contempt

Word History

First Known Use

1649, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in contempt was in 1649

Rhymes for in contempt

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Browse Nearby Words

in contemplation
in contempt
in contention
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20contempt. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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