Contemn

Quick meaning: Contemn is a verb meaning (transitive, dated) To disdain; to value at little or nothing; to treat or regard with contempt.

Meaning

(transitive, dated) To disdain; to value at little or nothing; to treat or regard with contempt.

More Meanings

1. (law) To commit an offence of contempt, such as contempt of court; to unlawfully flout (e.g. a ruling).

Example Sentences

I was perturbed by the suspicion that the anguish of love contemned was alloyed in her broken heart with the pangs, sordid to my young mind, of wounded vanity.

The subject of the following History [...] is the unhappy Lives, and untimely Deaths, of that Unfortunate English King Edward the Second, and his two Favourites Gaveston and Spencer; for his immoderate love to whom, (Says Dr. Heylin) he was hated by the Nobles, and contemned by the Commons.

The change which had so suddenly elevated Charles Stuart to the throne of his ancestors, and, from a poor, wandering, and powerless exile, made him one of Europe's most powerful monarchs, had taken the various courts where he had sojourned, neglected, if not contemned, completely by surprise.

Word Forms

• contemns
• contemning
• contemned

Synonyms for contemn

Depending on context, synonyms include despise, scorn, disdain.

Antonyms for contemn

Common opposites include honor, respect, revere, venerate.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include scorn, disdain, despise, revile, indignify, despect.

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