contemptuous Meaning, Definition & Usage

Con*temp"tu*ous adjective

Definitions

1. Manifecting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; insolent; disdainful.

   A proud, contemptious behavior. Hammond.

   Savage invectiveand contemptuous sarcasm. Macaulay.

   Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews. Atterbury.

   Syn. -- Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting; contumelious. -- Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person speaks of having "a very contemptible opinion of another." Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as, contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied to that which indicates contempts; as, a contemptuous look; a contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but can not be contemptuous.