CONTUMELY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does contumely mean? 

• CONTUMELY (noun)
  The noun CONTUMELY has 1 sense:

1. a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

  Familiarity information: CONTUMELY used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CONTUMELY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A rude expression intended to offend or hurt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

abuse; contumely; insult; revilement; vilification

Context example:

they yelled insults at the visiting team

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

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

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

low blow (unscrupulous abuse)

billingsgate; scurrility (foul-mouthed or obscene abuse)

cut; stinger (a remark capable of wounding mentally)

invective; vitriol; vituperation (abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will)

Derivation:

contumelious (arrogantly insolent)

 Context examples 

Why do you not hate Felix, who drove his friend from his door with contumely?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

But if the various banking-houses refuse to avail themselves of Mr. Micawber's abilities, or receive the offer of them with contumely, what is the use of dwelling upon THAT idea?

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)