CONTEMPT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does contempt mean? 

• CONTEMPT (noun)
  The noun CONTEMPT has 4 senses:

1. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

2. a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous

3. open disrespect for a person or thing

4. a willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body

  Familiarity information: CONTEMPT used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTEMPT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

contempt; despite; disdain; scorn

Context example:

the despite in which outsiders were held is legendary

Hypernyms ("contempt" is a kind of...):

dislike (a feeling of aversion or antipathy)

Derivation:

contemptuous (expressing extreme contempt)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

contempt; disrespect

Hypernyms ("contempt" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; rudeness (a manner that is rude and insulting)

Derivation:

contemptuous (expressing extreme contempt)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Open disrespect for a person or thing

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

contempt; scorn

Hypernyms ("contempt" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contempt"):

fleer (contempt expressed by mockery in looks or words)

leer; sneer (a facial expression of contempt or scorn; the upper lip curls)

sneer (a contemptuous or scornful remark)

Derivation:

contemptuous (expressing extreme contempt)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("contempt" is a kind of...):

disobedience; noncompliance (the failure to obey)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "contempt"):

contempt of Congress (deliberate obstruction of the operation of the federal legislative branch)

contempt of court (disrespect for the rules of a court of law)

 Context examples 

Contempt fell cool on Mr. Rochester—his passion died as if a blight had shrivelled it up: he only asked—"What have you to say?"

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Martin knew this and suffered more keenly from it than from the open and nagging contempt of Bernard Higginbotham.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

To this they only replied with a smile of contempt, saying, “that the farmer had instructed me very well in my lesson.”

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Anne caught his eye, saw his cheeks glow, and his mouth form itself into a momentary expression of contempt, and turned away, that she might neither see nor hear more to vex her.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

“He is a happy man!” said the general, with a look of very happy contempt.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Challenger smiled with weary and tolerant contempt, as a kindly man would meet the yapping of a litter of puppies.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

With a snarl of contempt he turned upon his heel, and I saw his curved back and white side-whiskers disappear among the throng.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When it was clear that nothing could be done, Miss Dartle— “Did I tell you not to speak to me?” she said, with stern contempt.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Though, indeed, the vendor of a certain nostrum has vulgarised the truism to the very point of contempt. Isn't that true, doctor?

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Contempt showed instantly in Womble's face. At last, beneath him in vileness, had the other sunk himself.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)