contemptuous

C2 Topic:Mind & Cognition

US /kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs/ UK /kənˈtɛm(p).tʃu.əs/ See IPA manual

adj Freq #46622

Meanings

1

adj
Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.

He gave me a contemptuous look and walked away.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · showing that you think... disdainful

More dismissive slighting

Opposites

respectful

Word family

Forms contemptuousness

Derived forms contemptuositycontemptuouslycontemptuousnessuncontemptuous

Related forms contemn contempt

Etymology

From Latin contemptus (whence contempt) + -ous.

contemptus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Mind & Cognition Word Formation & Derivatives

# contemptuous

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** kənˈtɛmp.t͡ʃu.əs
**IPA (UK):** kənˈtɛm(p).tʃu.əs
**Frequency rank:** 46622

## Meanings
1. Showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.

## Examples
- He gave me a contemptuous look and walked away.

## Synonyms
- disdainful
- dismissive
- slighting

## Antonyms
- respectful

## Derived Forms
- contemptuosity
- contemptuously
- contemptuousness
- uncontemptuous

## Related Forms
- contemn
- contempt

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: contemptus

## Etymology
From Latin contemptus (whence contempt) + -ous.

## AI Etymology
Contemptuous is from Latin contemptus (whence contempt) + -ous. The analysis is mainly morphological: the modern adjectival form is built from the named base and affix. Important recorded forms include contemptus (Latin). Current senses include showing that you think someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect. The wider family includes derived forms such as contemptuosity, contemptuously, contemptuousness, and uncontemptuous and related words such as contemn and contempt.

## Topics
- Mind & Cognition
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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contemptuous

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