contemptuous

adjective

kən-ˈtem(p)-chə-wəs How to pronounce contemptuous (audio)
Definition of contemptuousnext
1
as in disdainful
feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern loutish tourists who are contemptuous of the ways and traditions of their host countries

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slighting
intended to make a person or thing seem of little importance or value contemptuous comments about the baseball team's pathetic showings

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of contemptuous The fantasy of transforming a cold or contemptuous man through the sheer force of one’s love has caused real harm, and the critique of it is warranted. — Literary Hub, 29 June 2026 The Uganda Law Society demanded Lukwago's immediate release, saying his arrest was contemptuous of court processes. — ABC News, 15 June 2026 Their response to the indignities of modernity is only contemptuous silence. — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 27 Apr. 2026 Critics are sometimes contemptuous of the way superhero entertainment has been embraced by adults, who should presumably be making their way through the Booker Prize longlist. — David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for contemptuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemptuous
  1. disdainful
  2. insulting
  3. scornful
  4. malicious
  5. arrogant
  6. disparaging
  7. abhorrent
  8. abusive
Adjective
  • As Cusk has become more disdainful of fiction and more insistent on the documentary function of art, her work has become vaguer and less concrete, fading like old ink into blurred indeterminacy.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
  • It was delivered with sneers, an ugly, small-minded few minutes in support of the sclerotic, disdainful of dynamic change.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
Definition of disdainful
Adjective
  • Afterward, Lisa brags about her pickpocketing skills and says theft is easier and less insulting to the mark.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The mother was waiting with her daughter for her other children to get off a school bus when Blanco allegedly approached and made insulting comments, Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said, according to WPRI.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of insulting
Adjective
  • Atletico did not believe Madrid were actually serious with their bid, and reacted with more angry and scornful social media posts.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Tribunals have been appointed, and Coriolanus’ scornful elitism strikes them as too heavy a price for his military protection.
    — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of scornful
Adjective
  • Moreover, the perpetrators do not appear to have used malicious code on the fridge controllers, potentially complicating efforts to track down who carried out the cyberattack, added Aimé.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware and potentially access your private information is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • Wright was known to be arrogant, and his self-importance is on full display here.
    — Wendy S. Walters, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Georg, an unemployed auto mechanic, comes across as an arrogant jock.
    — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Adjective
  • Felix points to Trump’s disparaging and false comments against Haitians in Springfield, Ohio, which put a target on the back of many Haitian immigrants.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
  • The irony is that Trump has been more disparaging and dismissive of the military than any other president.
    — Joe Garofoli, San Francisco Chronicle, 17 Mar. 2026
Definition of disparaging
Adjective
  • The theft of taxpayer dollars intended to help the American people is abhorrent and must be stopped.
    — WCCO Staff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The allegations in this indictment are abhorrent and represent a profound betrayal of that trust.
    — Jack Perry, The Providence Journal, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of abhorrent
Adjective
  • Of course, parents should intervene when a coach is abusive or a child is genuinely being mistreated.
    — Jonathan Alpert OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The policy prohibited speakers from directing remarks to individual council members and restricted comments considered personal or abusive.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of abusive

Browse Nearby Words

contemptibly
contemptuous
contemptuously
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Cite this Entry

“Contemptuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemptuous. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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