Contempt
noun
Definition
1. (noun) A deep feeling of disrespect and disgust toward someone or something you consider worthless or morally low.
2. (noun) Open disregard for something that should be respected — treating rules, authority, or people as if they don't matter.
3. (noun) A legal offence of showing disrespect to a court or judge — contempt of court.
2. (noun) Open disregard for something that should be respected — treating rules, authority, or people as if they don't matter.
3. (noun) A legal offence of showing disrespect to a court or judge — contempt of court.
Context Alive
Your colleague takes credit for a project you worked on for three months. In the meeting, he presents your slides as if he built them himself. You sit there watching, and what you feel isn't anger — it's contempt. You don't even want to argue. You just lose all respect for him in that moment.
Meanings
3 meanings 1 Deep Disrespect and Disgust (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about a powerful feeling of looking down on someone or something — seeing them as so worthless or morally low that they don't deserve even basic respect. Imagine finding out that a trusted colleague has been lying to everyone for months — the moment you learn the truth, what you feel isn't just anger, it's contempt. This is describing a cold, settled judgment rather than a burst of emotion. You might say "she looked at him with contempt" to describe a facial expression full of disgust and disrespect, or someone could say "I hold him in utter contempt" to mean they have zero respect for the person. Or think about a public figure caught stealing from a charity — the public reaction isn't disappointment, it's contempt. The word is colder and more permanent than anger — anger fades, but contempt stays.
✏️ Contempt is one of the strongest words for disrespect in English. Psychologist John Gottman identified it as the single biggest predictor of divorce — when partners start showing contempt for each other, the relationship is usually beyond saving. The facial expression associated with contempt is a one-sided lip raise — a sneer.
2 Open Disregard for Rules or Authority (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about treating something that should be respected — laws, rules, safety standards, other people's rights — as if it simply doesn't matter. Imagine a company that dumps toxic waste into a river despite clear environmental laws — that's showing contempt for the regulations designed to protect people. This is describing a deliberate refusal to take something seriously. You might read "the regime showed total contempt for human rights" in a news report about a government ignoring international law, or someone could say "he has contempt for authority" to describe a person who refuses to follow rules or respect those in charge. Or think about a driver who speeds through residential streets every day — they're showing contempt for the safety of the people who live there. The word implies the disregard is deliberate and defiant.
✏️ The pattern contempt for + noun is the most common structure: "contempt for the law", "contempt for safety", "contempt for the truth." Treat with contempt means to act as if something or someone is worthless: "they treated the regulations with contempt." Beneath contempt means so bad it's not even worth the effort of feeling contempt — it's below the lowest level of respect.
3 Contempt of Court (Legal, Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is a specific legal term — the offence of showing disrespect to a court, a judge, or the judicial process. Imagine a witness who refuses to answer questions during a trial despite being ordered to by the judge — the judge could find them in contempt of court. This is describing behaviour that undermines the authority or proceedings of the legal system. You might hear "the journalist was held in contempt for refusing to reveal her source" when a court demands information and the person refuses, or someone could say "he was fined for contempt of court after shouting at the judge" to describe punishment for disrespectful behaviour during a hearing. Or think about publishing information that could influence a jury before a trial is over — that could be treated as contempt. The word carries legal consequences in this sense.
✏️ Contempt of court is a fixed legal phrase. Held in contempt means a judge has officially ruled that someone's behaviour was disrespectful to the court. It can result in fines or even imprisonment. In media law, reporting certain details about ongoing trials can also constitute contempt — this is why journalists are careful about what they publish before a verdict.
Common Patterns
Basic Structures
contempt for + noun → deep disrespect directed at a person, rule, or value
His contempt for authority was obvious from the way he spoke to his managers.
hold someone in contempt → to feel deep, settled disrespect for a person
After the scandal, the public held the CEO in complete contempt.
contempt of court → the legal offence of disrespecting a court or judge
She was held in contempt of court for refusing to hand over the documents.
Common Structures
treat with contempt → to act as if someone or something is worthless
The company treated its employees' complaints with contempt.
look at / speak with contempt → to show disrespect through facial expression, tone, or body language
She looked at the mess he'd made with visible contempt.
beneath contempt → so low it's not even worth the effort of disrespecting — below the worst
What he did to his own mother was beneath contempt.
Collocations
10 collocationscontempt for
deep disrespect aimed at a specific person, thing, or principle
hold in contempt
to feel settled, permanent disrespect for someone
contempt of court
the legal offence of disrespecting a judge or court
treat with contempt
to act as though something or someone is worthless
utter contempt
complete, total disrespect with no trace of regard
beneath contempt
so morally low it doesn't even deserve the effort of scorn
show contempt
to display disrespect through words, actions, or expression
open contempt
disrespect that is visible and unconcealed
contempt for authority
a refusal to respect or follow those in positions of power
look of contempt
a facial expression that shows deep disrespect — often a sneer
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
She looked at him with contempt and walked away without saying a word.
She gave him a look of pure disgust and left in silence.
2
His contempt for the rules was obvious — he broke them openly and without apology.
It was clear he had no respect for the rules — he ignored them publicly and didn't care.
3
The witness was held in contempt of court for refusing to answer the judge's questions.
The court officially ruled that the witness had been disrespectful by not responding to the judge.
4
After years of being lied to, she felt nothing but contempt for her former partner.
After so many lies, the only thing she had left for her ex was total disrespect.
5
The government showed open contempt for the protesters by ignoring their demands entirely.
The government made it clear they didn't care about the demonstrators by completely dismissing what they asked for.
6
Dumping waste into the river shows utter contempt for the environment.
Polluting the river with waste demonstrates a complete lack of respect for the natural world.
7
What he did was beneath contempt — I can't even bring myself to talk about it.
His actions were so low that they're beyond anything I can describe with disgust.
8
The manager treated the team's feedback with contempt, dismissing every suggestion.
The manager acted as though the team's input was worthless, rejecting everything they proposed.
9
Familiarity breeds contempt — the closer you get to some people, the less you respect them.
The better you know certain people, the harder it becomes to maintain your respect for them.
10
He was fined £10,000 for contempt of court after disrupting the trial.
The court ordered him to pay £10,000 as punishment for interrupting the proceedings.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
2 items
Idioms & Expressionsfamiliarity breeds contempt — the more you know someone or something, the more likely you are to lose respect for them
They say familiarity breeds contempt, and after ten years working together, he understood why.
beneath contempt — so morally disgusting that it's not even worth feeling scorn about
Scamming elderly people out of their savings is beneath contempt.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsscorn
very close — strong disrespect, but scorn is often more openly displayed
disdain
similar but slightly colder and more detached — looking down from a distance
disgust
overlaps emotionally but is broader — contempt is specifically about disrespect, disgust can be physical
Antonymsrespect
the direct opposite — high regard and admiration for someone
admiration
warm approval and high regard — the emotional opposite of contempt
reverence
deep, almost sacred respect — as far from contempt as possible