contempt
noun
con·tempt
kən-ˈtem(p)t 
1
2
: the state of being despised
3
: willful disobedience to or open disrespect of a court, judge, or legislative body
contempt of court
Synonyms
Examples of contempt in a Sentence
There, in the tall grass and the jungle, many would fall and the rest would return home to endure the sullen contempt of their fellow citizens, all to no purpose.
—
A. J. Bacevich, Commonweal, 12 Sept. 1997
I even read a mild contempt into this first-name business, comparable to the old habit of calling men Mac, Ace, Chief, or Buddy, or calling women Honey, Sweetie, or Doll.
—Aristides, American Scholar, Summer 1996
The same contempt for the poor that suggests kids are better off in orphanages will mobilize resistance to the orphanages themselves.
—Katha Pollitt, Nation, 12 Dec. 1994
… they looked with contempt at the bloodless gray arthritic hands of the old woman …
—Alice Walker, In Love & Trouble, 1973
He feels that wealthy people view him with contempt because he is poor.
He spoke with contempt in his voice.
She has displayed a profound contempt for her opponents.
She was arrested for contempt of court.
A. J. Bacevich, Commonweal, 12 Sept. 1997
I even read a mild contempt into this first-name business, comparable to the old habit of calling men Mac, Ace, Chief, or Buddy, or calling women Honey, Sweetie, or Doll.
—Aristides, American Scholar, Summer 1996
The same contempt for the poor that suggests kids are better off in orphanages will mobilize resistance to the orphanages themselves.
—Katha Pollitt, Nation, 12 Dec. 1994
… they looked with contempt at the bloodless gray arthritic hands of the old woman …
—Alice Walker, In Love & Trouble, 1973
He feels that wealthy people view him with contempt because he is poor.
He spoke with contempt in his voice.
She has displayed a profound contempt for her opponents.
She was arrested for contempt of court.
Recent Examples on the Web
Sheridan, while working for Arpaio, was found in civil contempt of court in connection with the Melendres racial profiling lawsuit.
—Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
On Tuesday, he was released from a federal prison after serving four months for contempt of Congress over his defiance of a subpoena from investigators into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
Yes, but: Local Democratic Party officials view the endorsements as outliers that mask many Detroiters' contempt for Trump's racist rhetoric.
—Joe Guillen, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Bannon was convicted in July 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress and was sentenced to four months at FCI Danbury in Connecticut.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contempt 
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Jimmy Jenkins, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
On Tuesday, he was released from a federal prison after serving four months for contempt of Congress over his defiance of a subpoena from investigators into the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
Yes, but: Local Democratic Party officials view the endorsements as outliers that mask many Detroiters' contempt for Trump's racist rhetoric.
—Joe Guillen, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Bannon was convicted in July 2022 on two counts of contempt of Congress and was sentenced to four months at FCI Danbury in Connecticut.
—Graham Kates, CBS News, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for contempt
Dictionary Entries Near contempt
Cite this Entry
“Contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contempt. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
contempt
noun
con·tempt
kən-ˈtem(p)t
1
: the act of despising : the state of mind of one who despises
2
: the state of being despised
3
: disobedience or disrespect to a court, judge, or legislature
Legal Definition
contempt
noun
con·tempt
kən-ˈtempt
1
: willful disobedience or open disrespect of the orders, authority, or dignity of a court or judge acting in a judicial capacity by disruptive language or conduct or by failure to obey the court's orders
also
: the offense of contempt
called also contempt of court
—
civil contempt
: contempt that consists of disobedience to a court order in favor of the opposing party
Note: The sanctions for civil contempt end upon compliance with the order.
—
constructive contempt
: indirect contempt in this entry
—
criminal contempt
: contempt consisting of conduct that disrupts or opposes the proceedings or power of the court
Note: The sanctions for criminal contempt are designed to punish as well as to coerce compliance.
—
direct contempt
: contempt committed in the presence of the court or in a location close enough to disrupt the court's proceedings
—
indirect contempt
: contempt (as disobedience of a court order) that occurs outside of the presence of the court
2
: willful disobedience to a lawful order of or willful obstruction of a legislative body in the course of exercising its powers
contempt of Congress
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