Contemptuous
adjective
Showing or feeling a lack of respect or a strong dislike.
She looked at him with a contemptuous laugh.
Often appears as...
- contemptuous smile
- contemptuous disregard
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Showing or feeling a lack of respect or a strong dislike.
She looked at him with a contemptuous laugh.
Often appears as...
- contemptuous smile
- contemptuous disregard
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
Use 'contemptuous' to describe someone's attitude when it's filled with strong dislike or disrespect.
Her contemptuous tone made it clear she thought the idea was foolish.
Pro Tip 2/3Facial Expressions
'Contemptuous' often relates to facial expressions signaling disdain, like rolling one's eyes.
His contemptuous smirk gave away his true feelings about the performance.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Interaction
Using 'contemptuous' can imply a social hierarchy where the speaker feels superior.
She gave a contemptuous laugh when he suggested she couldn't afford the car.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
Use 'contemptuous' to describe someone's attitude when it's filled with strong dislike or disrespect.
Her contemptuous tone made it clear she thought the idea was foolish.
Pro Tip 2/3Facial Expressions
'Contemptuous' often relates to facial expressions signaling disdain, like rolling one's eyes.
His contemptuous smirk gave away his true feelings about the performance.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Interaction
Using 'contemptuous' can imply a social hierarchy where the speaker feels superior.
She gave a contemptuous laugh when he suggested she couldn't afford the car.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
Use 'contemptuous' to describe someone's attitude when it's filled with strong dislike or disrespect.
Her contemptuous tone made it clear she thought the idea was foolish.
Pro Tip 2/3Facial Expressions
'Contemptuous' often relates to facial expressions signaling disdain, like rolling one's eyes.
His contemptuous smirk gave away his true feelings about the performance.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Interaction
Using 'contemptuous' can imply a social hierarchy where the speaker feels superior.
She gave a contemptuous laugh when he suggested she couldn't afford the car.
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Video examples
Your body language...
body language and we're particularly interested in other people's body language you know we're interested in like you know a an awkward interaction or a smile or a contemptuous glance or maybe a very awkward wink or maybe even
Video examples
Your body language may...
and we're particularly interested in other people's body language. You know, we're interested in, like, you know — — an awkward interaction, or a smile, or a contemptuous glance, or maybe a very awkward wink,
Video examples
Your body language...
body language and we're particularly interested in other people's body language you know we're interested in like you know a an awkward interaction or a smile or a contemptuous glance or maybe a very awkward wink or maybe even
Video examples
Your body language may...
and we're particularly interested in other people's body language. You know, we're interested in, like, you know — — an awkward interaction, or a smile, or a contemptuous glance, or maybe a very awkward wink,
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Jennifer Egan
American Novelist
I think a playful critique is good for all of us, and that's basically how I see satire functioning. But I'm not interested in a kind of contemptuous satirical vision; I try always, even when I'm knowingly being satirical, to also be humane, but I mean, let's face it: there's plenty in American life to make fun of, and we all participate in it.
Quote examples
Kim Brooks
American Writer
We're contemptuous of 'distracted' working mothers. We're contemptuous of 'selfish' rich mothers. We're contemptuous of mothers who have no choice but to work, but also of mothers who don't need to work and still fail to fulfill an impossible ideal of selfless motherhood. You don't have to look very hard to see the common denominator.
Quote examples
John le Carre
English Writer
Until we have a better relationship between private performance and the public truth, as was demonstrated with Watergate, we as the public are absolutely right to remain suspicious, contemptuous even, of the secrecy and the misinformation which is the digest of our news.
Quote examples
John Ratzenberger
American Actor
The pollution they produce, market, sell, and show to billions around the world is at its core contemptuous of the country that gave them better lives than nearly 100 percent of everybody who's ever lived. And they pass that contempt along for everyone to see.
Quote examples
Zhang Zhidong
Chinese Politician
Without knowing about flexibility, one cannot work out strategies to deal with the enemy and prepare for changes, and without knowing about the foundation of one's own culture, one would be contemptuous of the Confucian ethical codes.
Quote examples
Jean-Michel Jarre
French Musician
Generation after generation, there is this never-ending, contemptuous, condescending attitude to the next generation or the next way of thinking: music, art, politics, whatever. And I have never been like that.
Quote examples
Konrad Lorenz
Austrian Scientist
I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you want?' 'Goodness,' is the answer.
Quote examples
Leigh Bardugo
Israeli Author
Teenage girls have so much sway over culture, yet people sneer at the things that women and girls love, and are contemptuous of the creators of that content, particularly if they are women.
Quote examples
Ian Frazier
American Writer
There's an idea of the Plains as the middle of nowhere, something to be contemptuous of. But it's really a heroic place.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Many men are contemptuous of riches; few can give them away.
Quote examples
Jennifer Egan
American Novelist
I think a playful critique is good for all of us, and that's basically how I see satire functioning. But I'm not interested in a kind of contemptuous satirical vision; I try always, even when I'm knowingly being satirical, to also be humane, but I mean, let's face it: there's plenty in American life to make fun of, and we all participate in it.
Quote examples
Kim Brooks
American Writer
We're contemptuous of 'distracted' working mothers. We're contemptuous of 'selfish' rich mothers. We're contemptuous of mothers who have no choice but to work, but also of mothers who don't need to work and still fail to fulfill an impossible ideal of selfless motherhood. You don't have to look very hard to see the common denominator.
Quote examples
John le Carre
English Writer
Until we have a better relationship between private performance and the public truth, as was demonstrated with Watergate, we as the public are absolutely right to remain suspicious, contemptuous even, of the secrecy and the misinformation which is the digest of our news.
Quote examples
John Ratzenberger
American Actor
The pollution they produce, market, sell, and show to billions around the world is at its core contemptuous of the country that gave them better lives than nearly 100 percent of everybody who's ever lived. And they pass that contempt along for everyone to see.
Quote examples
Zhang Zhidong
Chinese Politician
Without knowing about flexibility, one cannot work out strategies to deal with the enemy and prepare for changes, and without knowing about the foundation of one's own culture, one would be contemptuous of the Confucian ethical codes.
Quote examples
Jean-Michel Jarre
French Musician
Generation after generation, there is this never-ending, contemptuous, condescending attitude to the next generation or the next way of thinking: music, art, politics, whatever. And I have never been like that.
Quote examples
Konrad Lorenz
Austrian Scientist
I don't need brains,' says the billionaire contemptuously. 'I'm brainy enough myself!' The broker cries out in desperation, 'What, in heaven's name, do you want?' 'Goodness,' is the answer.
Quote examples
Leigh Bardugo
Israeli Author
Teenage girls have so much sway over culture, yet people sneer at the things that women and girls love, and are contemptuous of the creators of that content, particularly if they are women.
Quote examples
Ian Frazier
American Writer
There's an idea of the Plains as the middle of nowhere, something to be contemptuous of. But it's really a heroic place.
Quote examples
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
French Writer
Many men are contemptuous of riches; few can give them away.
Example 1 of 10
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