Contumelious

/ˌkɒn.tjʊˈmiː.li.əs/ · adjective

Meaning

(archaic, literary) Rudely contemptuous; showing contumely; exhibiting an insolent or disdainful attitude..

Example Sentences

VVith ſcoffes and ſcornes, and contumelious taunts, / In open Market-place produc't they me, / To be a publique ſpectacle to all: / Here, ſayd they, is the Terror of the French, / The Scar-Crovv that affrights our Children ſo.

To sin against his law, is an high affront to his majesty; but to sin against his love and benefits is more contumelious to him.

Such, and more contumelious, was the language of opposition in parliament, and of the pretended patriots in their private meetings, during the whole administration of sir Robert Walpole, who understood and pursued the true interests of his country, but, perhaps, without sufficiently attending to its honour.

The pad would not stay on Modestine’s back for half a moment. I returned it to its maker, with whom I had so contumelious a passage that the street outside was crowded from wall to wall with gossips looking on and listening.

"How now, you scullions and cullions: bring hither a pair of cow's hooves to out face this contumelious caitiff."

Synonyms for contumelious

Antonyms for contumelious

Related Words

Word Forms

• more contumelious
• most contumelious

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

Practice and Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions