DISRESPECTFUL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does disrespectful mean? 

• DISRESPECTFUL (adjective)
  The adjective DISRESPECTFUL has 2 senses:

1. exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous

2. neither feeling nor showing respect

  Familiarity information: DISRESPECTFUL used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISRESPECTFUL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous

Context example:

disrespectful toward his teacher

Similar:

annihilating; devastating; withering (making light of)

contemptuous; disdainful; insulting; scornful (expressing extreme contempt)

contumelious (arrogantly insolent)

derisive; gibelike; jeering; mocking; taunting (abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule)

impious; undutiful (lacking due respect or dutifulness)

flip; impudent; insolent; snotty-nosed (marked by casual disrespect)

undeferential (not showing courteous respect)

Also:

discourteous (showing no courtesy; rude)

immodest (having or showing an exaggerated opinion of your importance, ability, etc)

offensive (causing anger or annoyance)

irreverent (showing lack of due respect or veneration)

sarcastic (expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds)

Antonym:

respectful (full of or exhibiting respect)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Neither feeling nor showing respect

Synonyms:

aweless; awless; disrespectful

Similar:

irreverent (showing lack of due respect or veneration)

 Context examples 

"Hold your tongue, you disrespectful old bird!" cried Polly, tumbling off the chair with a bounce, and running to peck the 'rattlepated' boy, who was shaking with laughter at the last speech.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Such a letter could not be read without putting Anne in a glow; and Mrs Smith, observing the high colour in her face, said—The language, I know, is highly disrespectful.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

The fly-drivers, among whom I inquired next, were equally jocose and equally disrespectful; and the shopkeepers, not liking my appearance, generally replied, without hearing what I had to say, that they had got nothing for me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Mrs. Price, in her turn, was injured and angry; and an answer, which comprehended each sister in its bitterness, and bestowed such very disrespectful reflections on the pride of Sir Thomas as Mrs. Norris could not possibly keep to herself, put an end to all intercourse between them for a considerable period.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

She was quite pained by the severity of his father's reproof, which seemed disproportionate to the offence; and much was her concern increased when she found herself the principal cause of the lecture, and that his tardiness was chiefly resented from being disrespectful to her.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

The disagreement subsisting between yourself and my late honoured father always gave me much uneasiness, and since I have had the misfortune to lose him, I have frequently wished to heal the breach; but for some time I was kept back by my own doubts, fearing lest it might seem disrespectful to his memory for me to be on good terms with anyone with whom it had always pleased him to be at variance.—'There, Mrs. Bennet.'—My mind, however, is now made up on the subject, for having received ordination at Easter, I have been so fortunate as to be distinguished by the patronage of the Right Honourable Lady Catherine de Bourgh, widow of Sir Lewis de Bourgh, whose bounty and beneficence has preferred me to the valuable rectory of this parish, where it shall be my earnest endeavour to demean myself with grateful respect towards her ladyship, and be ever ready to perform those rites and ceremonies which are instituted by the Church of England. As a clergyman, moreover, I feel it my duty to promote and establish the blessing of peace in all families within the reach of my influence; and on these grounds I flatter myself that my present overtures are highly commendable, and that the circumstance of my being next in the entail of Longbourn estate will be kindly overlooked on your side, and not lead you to reject the offered olive-branch. I cannot be otherwise than concerned at being the means of injuring your amiable daughters, and beg leave to apologise for it, as well as to assure you of my readiness to make them every possible amends—but of this hereafter. If you should have no objection to receive me into your house, I propose myself the satisfaction of waiting on you and your family, Monday, November 18th, by four o'clock, and shall probably trespass on your hospitality till the Saturday se'ennight following, which I can do without any inconvenience, as Lady Catherine is far from objecting to my occasional absence on a Sunday, provided that some other clergyman is engaged to do the duty of the day.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Hold your tongue, you disrespectful old bird!

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Fanny was just beginning to collect herself, and to feel that if she staid longer behind it might seem disrespectful, when this point was settled, and being commissioned with the brother and sister's apology, saw them preparing to go as she quitted the room herself to perform the dreadful duty of appearing before her uncle.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)