contemptible

adjective

con·tempt·ible kən-ˈtem(p)-tə-bəl How to pronounce contemptible (audio)

: worthy of contempt

a contemptible snob

contemptible bigots

obsolete : scornful, contemptuous

contemptibility

kən-ˌtem(p)-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē How to pronounce contemptible (audio)

noun

contemptibleness noun

contemptibly

kən-ˈtem(p)-tə-blē How to pronounce contemptible (audio)

adverb

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What Is the Difference Between contemptuous and contemptible?

Contemptuous and contemptible are sometimes confused with each other. This is neither surprising, as they are similar in appearance, nor is it unprecedented: the words were used interchangeably for several hundred years (from the 16^th through the 18^th century), with each one meaning both "deserving contempt" and "showing contempt." By the early 19^th century, some commentators began raising objections when the words were used synonymously, suggesting that they should be distinguished, with contemptuous meaning only "showing contempt" and contemptible only "deserving contempt."

In the following passage, for example, a would-be critic is ridiculed for using contemptible in the sense "showing contempt":

“Young man! my opinion of you is very contemptible.” “All your opinions are contemptible,” rejoined Phillip, quietly. – Garry Avenel, Zou Mou, in The Iris, September, 1841

The distinction hinted at in this rebuke has been observed in English, by professional writers anyway, for close to 200 years.

Example Sentences

I've never met a more selfish, contemptible person. the contemptible thieves who stole the Christmas gifts intended for needy children

Recent Examples on the Web Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans.

Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2022 This contemptible attack wasn’t an assault only on him, but on the West and all freethinkers.

Reza Pahlavi, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Navigating contemptible bosses and the petty indignities that have always been inflicted on the ranks of working stiffs has never been easy.

Lindsay Ellis And Angela Yang, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Six years ago, Levy was backing Jeb Bush for president and dismissing Trump as contemptible.

Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 July 2022 In its matter-of-factness, the film is nonetheless a work of outrage, less at individuals, even the most contemptible on view, than at France as a whole—postwar France and its self-silencing, self-exonerating political mythology.

Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 Indeed, Don't Look Up takes a scattershot approach to lamenting humanity — from celebrities and media figures to politicians and ordinary joes — as by and large contemptible, moronic, and the hastener of its own destruction.

Andy Meek, BGR, 7 Jan. 2022 Shocked at the president’s contemptible and brazenly autocratic conduct, fellow Republicans set aside partisanship, fiercely condemned Trump and joined Democrats in voting to impeach the president.

Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2021 This discontent increased in the wake of a 1936 ruling known as Tipaldo, after its contemptible protagonist, a slave-driving New York factory owner, overturning a New York minimum wage law.

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021 See More

单词	contemptibly
释义	contemptible adjective con·tempt·ible kən-ˈtem(p)-tə-bəl 1 : worthy of contempt a contemptible snob contemptible bigots 2 obsolete : scornful, contemptuous contemptibility kən-ˌtem(p)-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē noun contemptibleness noun contemptibly kən-ˈtem(p)-tə-blē adverb Did you know? What Is the Difference Between contemptuous and contemptible? Contemptuous and contemptible are sometimes confused with each other. This is neither surprising, as they are similar in appearance, nor is it unprecedented: the words were used interchangeably for several hundred years (from the 16^th through the 18^th century), with each one meaning both "deserving contempt" and "showing contempt." By the early 19^th century, some commentators began raising objections when the words were used synonymously, suggesting that they should be distinguished, with contemptuous meaning only "showing contempt" and contemptible only "deserving contempt." In the following passage, for example, a would-be critic is ridiculed for using contemptible in the sense "showing contempt": “Young man! my opinion of you is very contemptible.” “All your opinions are contemptible,” rejoined Phillip, quietly. – Garry Avenel, Zou Mou, in The Iris, September, 1841 The distinction hinted at in this rebuke has been observed in English, by professional writers anyway, for close to 200 years. Synonyms cheap cruddy deplorable despicable dirty grubby lame lousy mean nasty paltry pitiable pitiful ratty scabby scummy scurvy sneaking sorry wretched See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences I've never met a more selfish, contemptible person. the contemptible thieves who stole the Christmas gifts intended for needy children Recent Examples on the Web Have never come across a political force more nihilistic, dangerous & contemptible than today’s Republicans. Margaret Sullivan, Washington Post, 21 Aug. 2022 This contemptible attack wasn’t an assault only on him, but on the West and all freethinkers. Reza Pahlavi, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 Navigating contemptible bosses and the petty indignities that have always been inflicted on the ranks of working stiffs has never been easy. Lindsay Ellis And Angela Yang, WSJ, 12 Aug. 2022 Six years ago, Levy was backing Jeb Bush for president and dismissing Trump as contemptible. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 July 2022 In its matter-of-factness, the film is nonetheless a work of outrage, less at individuals, even the most contemptible on view, than at France as a whole—postwar France and its self-silencing, self-exonerating political mythology. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 11 July 2022 Indeed, Don't Look Up takes a scattershot approach to lamenting humanity — from celebrities and media figures to politicians and ordinary joes — as by and large contemptible, moronic, and the hastener of its own destruction. Andy Meek, BGR, 7 Jan. 2022 Shocked at the president’s contemptible and brazenly autocratic conduct, fellow Republicans set aside partisanship, fiercely condemned Trump and joined Democrats in voting to impeach the president. Los Angeles Times, 22 Dec. 2021 This discontent increased in the wake of a 1936 ruling known as Tipaldo, after its contemptible protagonist, a slave-driving New York factory owner, overturning a New York minimum wage law. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English, "unworthy, despicable," borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, "despicable, worthless," borrowed from Latin contemptibilis (Medieval Latin also, "contemptuous"), from contemptus, past participle of contemnere "to look down on, show no respect for, despise" + -ibilis -ible — more at contemn First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Kids Definition contemptible adjective con·tempt·ible kən-ˈtemp-tə-bəl : deserving or causing a person to be despised a contemptible criminal a contemptible lie contemptibly adverb as in abominably Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance abominably pitiably despicably detestably hatefully nastily basely dishonorably ignobly wretchedly sorrily degenerately currishly Antonyms & Near Antonyms nobly honorably heroically grandly magnanimously greatly loftily gallantly venerably magnificently majestically greatheartedly high-mindedly See More
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contemptible

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

adverb