as in disdain
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
my undying contempt for people who abuse animals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 contempt
The defense’s contempt motion stemmed from comments prosecutor Christopher Ballard, also a spokesperson for the Utah County Attorney’s Office, made to media outlets this spring about an inconclusive ballistics report mentioned in a defense filing.
—
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
26 June 2026
With an $800 daily fine soon going into effect over her 2024 civil contempt ruling, Fox News alum Catherine Herridge‘s legal team has petitioned for a stay after she was ordered to reveal her sources for her 2017 stories about Yanping Chen.
—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
He was found in civil contempt in 2016 for denying knowledge of a court order to stop making immigration arrests, despite evidence to the contrary presented in court.
—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
25 June 2026
The far right and the far left now share the contempt and disdain for any thinking other than their own.
—
Joyce Kamanitz,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Andi Babineau,
CNN Money,
26 June 2026
With an $800 daily fine soon going into effect over her 2024 civil contempt ruling, Fox News alum Catherine Herridge‘s legal team has petitioned for a stay after she was ordered to reveal her sources for her 2017 stories about Yanping Chen.
—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
He was found in civil contempt in 2016 for denying knowledge of a court order to stop making immigration arrests, despite evidence to the contrary presented in court.
—
Rafael Carranza,
ProPublica,
25 June 2026
The far right and the far left now share the contempt and disdain for any thinking other than their own.
—
Joyce Kamanitz,
Hartford Courant,
25 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for contempt
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contempt
Noun
-
While the singer-songwriter has been vocal about her disdain for generative AI models, her latest argument against it comes after learning hundreds of her own songs have been used for training purposes.
-
But many Cepeda voters are still grappling to understand the disdain towards Colombia’s left.
Noun
-
Disciples of this extremist hatred are running for office and winning in select primaries.
-
But to the man himself, comedy is—like life—first and foremost about hatred of death.
Cite this Entry
“Contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contempt. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
