Definition of CONTEMPT
CONTEMPT Noun
Contempt is a noun that refers to a strong feeling of disdain, disrespect, or scorn towards someone or something considered unworthy or inferior. It signifies a lack of respect or a deep-seated negative judgment.
Feeling of Disdain: As a noun, contempt describes a feeling of profound disdain or disrespect toward someone or something. For example, “She looked at the outdated proposal with contempt,” indicates a strong sense of disapproval or scorn.
Lack of Respect: Contempt can also denote a general lack of respect or regard for someone or something. For instance, “His contempt for the regulations was evident in his blatant disregard for them,” highlights a deep-seated disrespect.
Legal Context: In a legal context, contempt refers to behavior that disobeys or disrespects the court or legal proceedings. For example, “The defendant was held in contempt of court for failing to comply with the judge’s orders,” illustrates its application in legal situations.
Context in Social and Professional Interactions: Contempt is relevant in social and professional interactions where respect and decorum are important. For example, “Contemptuous attitudes in the workplace can undermine teamwork and collaboration,” underscores its impact on professional relationships.
Importance in Emotional and Psychological Understanding: Understanding contempt is crucial for emotional and psychological analysis. For example, “Recognizing feelings of contempt can help in addressing underlying issues and improving interpersonal dynamics,” highlights its role in emotional awareness.
Impact on Communication and Relationships: Recognizing contempt helps in understanding its effects on communication and relationships. For example, “Contempt can severely damage relationships and hinder effective communication,” illustrates its potential negative impact on interactions.
Contempt is a noun that refers to a strong feeling of disdain, disrespect, or scorn toward someone or something. It signifies a lack of respect or a negative judgment, and can also apply in legal contexts. Understanding contempt highlights its significance in social, professional, and legal settings, emphasizing the importance of addressing and managing feelings of contempt to maintain respectful and effective interactions.
Examples of CONTEMPT in a sentence
- She looked at the proposal with contempt, finding it poorly thought out.
- His actions were met with contempt by the committee members.
- The judge’s contempt for the defendant was evident during the trial.
- Contempt for authority often leads to conflict in organizations.
- The article was written with contempt for traditional viewpoints.
- He spoke with contempt about the policies he disagreed with.
- The lawyer’s contempt for the opposing counsel was clear during cross-examination.
- They expressed contempt for the new regulations imposed by the government.
Origin of CONTEMPT
Contempt traces its origins to the Latin word contemptus, meaning “contempt” or “scorn,” derived from contemnere (to scorn or despise), which combines con- (intensive prefix) and temnere (to scorn). The term contempt evolved from the concept of deep disdain or lack of respect.
- Latin: Contemptus (contempt, scorn), from contemnere (to scorn), combining con- (intensive prefix) and temnere (to scorn).
- Latin: Contemnere referred to an intense form of scorn or disregard, and contemptus described the resulting feeling of disdain or disrespect.
- Old French: The term evolved into contempt, retaining the meaning of deep disapproval or scorn.
- Middle English: Contempt emerged, reflecting the concept of showing or feeling strong disdain or disrespect.
In contemporary English, contempt refers to a strong feeling of disapproval or disdain, often directed toward someone or something perceived as unworthy or inferior. It is used in legal contexts to describe behavior that shows disrespect for the court or legal proceedings. The term retains its core meaning of deep scorn or disdain, reflecting its historical evolution from Latin roots to describe various forms of negative judgment or disrespect.
Synonyms
- Disdain
- Scorn
- Disrespect
- Hatred
- Contemptuousness
- Disregard
- Derision
- Abhorrence
Antonyms
- Respect
- Admiration
- Esteem
- Regard
- Approval
- Appreciation
- Honor
- Reverence
Related
- Contemptuous
- Disdainful
- Scornful
- Derisive
- Dismissive
- Neglect
- Disrespect
- Devaluation
🌐 🇬🇧 CONTEMPT in other languages
| Spanish 🇪🇸 | Desprecio |
| French 🇫🇷 | Mépris |
| German 🇩🇪 | Verachtung |
| Chinese (simpl) 🇨🇳 | 蔑视 |
| Chinese (trad) 🇨🇳 | 鄙視 |
| Italian 🇮🇹 | Disprezzo |
| Portuguese 🇵🇹 | Desdém |
| Dutch 🇳🇱 | Minachting |
| Swedish 🇸🇪 | Förakt |
| Norwegian 🇳🇴 | Forakt |
| Finnish 🇫🇮 | Halveksuntaa |
| Romanian 🇷🇴 | Dispreţ |
| Polish 🇵🇱 | Pogarda |
| Hungarian 🇭🇺 | Megvetés |
| Czech 🇨🇿 | Opovržení |
| Bulgarian 🇧🇬 | презрение |
| Ukrainian 🇺🇦 | Презирство |
| Russian 🇷🇺 | Презрение |
| Turkish 🇹🇷 | Aşağılamak |
| Azerbaijani 🇦🇿 | Nifrət |
| Armenian 🇦🇲 | Արհամարհանք |
| Arabic 🇸🇦 | الازدراء |
| Hebrew 🇮🇱 | בּוּז |
| Urdu 🇵🇰 | حقارت |
| Farsi/Persian 🇮🇷 | تحقیر |
| Hindi 🇮🇳 | अवमानना |
| Bengaleli/se 🇧🇩 | অবজ্ঞা |
| Marathi 🇮🇳 | तिरस्कार |
| Telugu 🇮🇳 | ధిక్కారం |
| Tamil 🇮🇳 | அவமதிப்பு |
| Gujarati 🇮🇳 | તિરસ્કાર |
| Kannada 🇮🇳 | ತಿರಸ್ಕಾರ |
| Odia (Orya) 🇮🇳 | ଅବମାନନା | |
| Malayalam 🇮🇳 | അവജ്ഞ |
| Punjabi 🇮🇳 | ਨਿਰਾਦਰ |
| Sinhala/ese 🇱🇰 | අවඥාව |
| Nepali 🇳🇵 | अवहेलना |
| Burmese 🇲🇲 | မထီမဲ့မြင်ပြုခြင်း။ |
| Thai 🇹🇭 | ดูหมิ่น |
| Vietnamese 🇻🇳 | Khinh thường |
| Malay 🇲🇾 | Penghinaan |
| Indonesian 🇮🇩 | Penghinaan |
| Tagalog 🇵🇭 | Pagmamaliit |
| Japanese 🇯🇵 | 軽蔑する |
| Korean 🇰🇷 | 경멸하다 |
| Oromo 🇪🇹 | Tuffii |
| Somali 🇸🇴 | Quursi |
| Amharic 🇪🇹 | ንቀት |
| Swahili 🇹🇿 | Dharau |
| Yoruba 🇳🇬 | Ẹgan |
Popular Searches
• hit the nail on the head meaning • immodest definition • kindnesses definition • tightfisted meaning • what is the definition of quantities • related words for alien • noun of blame • effulgent synonym • threshold origin of word • what is a rocky road • entitled behavior in spanish • longitudinal wave description •