Question

contempt

Accepted Answer

con‧tempt /kənˈtempt/ noun [uncountable]
1a feeling that someone or something is not important and deserves no respect
contempt for
The contempt he felt for his fellow students was obvious.
utter/deep contempt
The report shows utter contempt for women’s judgement.
open/undisguised contempt
She looked at him with undisguised contempt.
The public is treated with contempt by broadcasters.
How could she have loved a man who so clearly held her in contempt?
beneath contempt
That sort of behaviour is simply beneath contempt (=does not deserve respect or attention).
2law disobedience or disrespect towards a court of law:
He was jailed for seven days for contempt of court.
in contempt of something
He was found in contempt of the order.
3complete lack of fear about something
contempt for
his contempt for danger
COLLOCATIONS
verbs
treat somebody/something with contempt The opinions of the public should not be ignored or treated with contempt.
have contempt for somebody/something (also feel contempt for somebody/something) He had a deep contempt for authority.
show contempt Her face showed clearly the contempt she felt for them.
hold somebody/something in contempt (=have a low opinion of something or someone, and show it) He was one of those men who hold in contempt those who do not share his point of view.
adjectives
utter/total contempt Sally looked at him with utter contempt.
the utmost contempt Many people regarded the government with the utmost contempt.
open/undisguised contempt (=that you do not try to hide) Her expression was one of open contempt.
deep contempt (=great contempt) There is a deep contempt for the commercialism in the West.
cold/icy contempt (=that shows in a very unfriendly way) I noticed the icy contempt in his voice.
withering contempt (=that makes you feel very inferior) She treated some of her staff with withering contempt.
phrases
a look of contempt He gave her a look of contempt that made her want to hit him.
have/feel/show etc nothing but contempt The public should have nothing but contempt for bad journalism.
treat somebody/something with the contempt they deserve She treated these accusations with the contempt they deserved.
familiarity breeds contempt (=used to say that if you know someone very well, you may respect them less)
THESAURUS
hatred an angry feeling of deep dislike for someone or something: his hatred of violence | It is easy to understand their hatred for the invaders of their country. | racial hatred (=of people who belong to a different race)
hate the angry feeling that someone has when they hate someone and want to harm them: His mind was filled with hate and the desire for revenge. | Her love for him turned to hate, and she tore up all his old letters. | Thatcher became a hate figure for the left (=someone who many people hate). | His enemies started a hate campaign against him in the press.
loathing a very strong feeling of hatred for someone or something that you think is extremely unpleasant: I felt nothing but loathing for him after the way he’d treated me.
animosity a feeling of hatred and anger that often makes people behave unpleasantly to each other: The animosity between parents who are getting a divorce can often cause great suffering to their children.
abhorrence formal a deep feeling of hatred towards something that you think is morally wrong or unpleasant: the abhorrence of terrorism by all decent people
contempt a feeling of hate towards someone or something you think does not deserve any respect at all: She looked at him with contempt. | I have nothing but contempt for these people.

Contempt Feeling Hatred Hate Treated Deep People Respect