1
as in pitiful
arousing or deserving of one's loathing and disgust
the contemptible thieves who stole the Christmas gifts intended for needy children
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in pathetic
deserving pitying scorn (as for inadequacy)
a contemptible attempt at science fiction by someone with no understanding of the genre
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3
as in vile
not following or in accordance with standards of honor and decency
the contemptible behavior of the students who took part in the hazing
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Recent Examples of contemptible
Alwyn does some of his best work, making Harry contemptible without veering into caricature.
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David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2024
His take on Prince Philip is both humanizing and unmerciful, cutting to the bone of a man portrayed in contradictory terms — petulant yet statesmanlike, intensely ambitious yet ineffectual, relatable one minute and contemptible the next.
—Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024
If one strips away the many glittering layers that have been added to her avatar by the operators and sycophants of America’s contemptible national press, one soon notices that Kamala Harris has a policy problem.
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 29 July 2024
The good news is that Rubio’s Ukraine vote appears to have been merely an act of contemptible political expediency rather than a conversion to isolationism.
—Max Boot, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for contemptible 
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Sep. 2024
His take on Prince Philip is both humanizing and unmerciful, cutting to the bone of a man portrayed in contradictory terms — petulant yet statesmanlike, intensely ambitious yet ineffectual, relatable one minute and contemptible the next.
—Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024
If one strips away the many glittering layers that have been added to her avatar by the operators and sycophants of America’s contemptible national press, one soon notices that Kamala Harris has a policy problem.
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 29 July 2024
The good news is that Rubio’s Ukraine vote appears to have been merely an act of contemptible political expediency rather than a conversion to isolationism.
—Max Boot, Washington Post, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for contemptible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for contemptible
Adjective
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Perhaps this weekend can be a get-right game against the pitiful New York Jets, but there’s not much to be excited about.Fox News Staff, Fox News, 13 Nov. 2024
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Mercifully, Newcastle came up against a Leicester side whose setup under Ruud van Nistelrooy was as naive as their defensive performance was pitiful.Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In the final, pathetic weeks of his failed presidency, Joe Biden has been casting about desperately for a positive legacy.Jack Butler, National Review, 12 Jan. 2025
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The 10th pick will be your usual pathetic Bear player.Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, the internet facilitates stupid vile behaviours.Art de Roché, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
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But there's a better chance of government acting against a vile status quo than waiting for colleges and universities to change.Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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As holidays go, however, Flag Day can feel a bit lame.Kevin Fisher-Paulson, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 June 2021
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My 11-year-old loved watching the pups roll balls and play a giant floor piano, but for non-dog owners (guilty as charged), parts of the series—like dressing dogs in little hats and outfits for a Parisian fashion show—feel lame.Tim Neville, Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2020
Adjective
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The net front is the nastiest place on an NHL rink.Chris Branch, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
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Make sure your items are delivered on time before nasty weather hits by signing up for a Prime membership.Christopher Murray, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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New England legislators and regulators consistently blocked building additional pipelines from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other regions in the U.S. and Canada, which could bring cheap, onshore natural gas to replace fuel oil.Ariel Cohen, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
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The 25-year-old is cheap, still a season away from salary arbitration eligibility, also plays the corner outfield spots, and won’t be a free agent until after the 2028 season.Brendan Kuty, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This set also comes with a shoe bag that has two compartments and can double as a laundry bag for dirty clothes during your trip.Rachel Trujillo, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2025
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The door to the laundry room is made of textured glass, so dirty clothes are hidden, but light continues to flow into the apartment.Katharina Schwarze, Architectural Digest, 7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Bummer enough the wretched weather here kept them from returning Sunday night.Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
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Last season the Red Sox blew 31 saves, second most in MLB behind only the wretched White Sox.Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Contemptible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/contemptible. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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