Synonyms of contempt

contempt

noun

kən-ˈtem(p)t 

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

• disdain
• hatred
• disgust
• distaste
• scorn
• malice
• hate
• hostility
• hatefulness
• despite
• contemptuousness
• resentment
• jealousy
• misprision
• despisement
• spite
• loathing
• grudge
• revulsion
• abhorrence
• meanness
• despitefulness
• detestation
• malevolence
• animosity
• bitterness
• repugnance
• enmity
• condemnation
• malignity
• repulsion
• ridicule
• malignancy
• antagonism
• vindictiveness
• abomination
• odium
• antipathy
• maliciousness
• disparagement
• execration
• spitefulness
• depreciation
• rancor
• lovelessness
• derision
• bile
• pique
• virulence
• abuse
• censure
• invidiousness
• aversion
• jaundice
• venom
• gall
• vitriol
• denunciation
• vituperation
• invective
• horror
• detraction
• spleen
• mockery
• aspersion
• belittlement
• deprecation
• diminishment
• cattiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• respect
• admiration
• esteem
• regard
• favor
• estimation
• acceptance
• tolerance
• reverence
• deference
• worship
• adoration
• veneration
• idolatry
• love
• adulation
• affection
• glorification
• fondness
• liking
• deification
• fancy
• idolization
• lionization

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of contempt

Last week, Judge Ali declined to hold the government in contempt of court for defying the earlier order, but continued to press for details. —Zach Montague, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

With contempt and termination by an unelected billionaire who never served in a uniform in his life. —Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2025

People were simply happy to see each other again, having gone through the final season boycott and reverse boycott together and unified in their disdain for A’s owner John Fisher but with no contempt for the players and coaches who had no choice but to follow their job out of town. —Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 2 Mar. 2025

In the process of reaching a settlement in January, he was held in contempt twice, by two different federal judges, for failing to relinquish possessions and continuing to defame the two election workers. —T. Michelle Murphy, ABC News, 24 Feb. 2025