'Contemptuous' definitions:
Definition of 'contemptuous'
(from WordNet)
adjective
Definition of 'Contemptuous'
From: GCIDE
- Contemptuous \Con*temp"tu*ous\ (?; 135), a. Manifesting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; insolent; disdainful. [1913 Webster]
- A proud, contemptuous behavior. --Hammond. [1913 Webster]
- Savage invective and contemptuous sarcasm. --Macaulay. [1913 Webster]
- Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews. --Atterbury.
- Syn: Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting; contumelious.
- Usage: Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person speaks of having "a very contemptible opinion of another." Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as, contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied to that which indicates contempt; as, a contemptuous look; a contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but can not be contemptuous. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'contemptuous'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- abjuratory,
- abusive,
- arrogant,
- audacious,
- back-biting,
- belittling,
- biggety,
- bitchy,
- blackening,
- blameful,
- bluff,
- bold,
- brash,
- brassy,
- brazen,
- bumptious,
- calumniatory,
- calumnious,
- catty,
- cavalier,
- censorious,
- challenging,
- cheeky,
- chutzpadik,
- clannish,
- cliquish,
- cocky,
- condemnatory,
- contumelious,
- crusty,
- damnatory,
- daring,
- declinatory,
- defamatory,
- defiant,
- defying,
- denunciatory,
- deprecative,
- deprecatory,
- depreciative,
- depreciatory,
- derisive,
- derisory,
- derogative,
- derogatory,
- despising,
- detractory,
- disdainful,
- dismissive,
- disparaging,
- disregardful,
- disrespectful,
- exclusive,
- execrating,
- execrative,
- execratory,
- facy,
- flip,
- flippant,
- fresh,
- gally,
- gratuitous,
- greatly daring,
- haughty,
- impertinent,
- impudent,
- insolent,
- insulting,
- invective,
- inveighing,
- judgmental,
- libelous,
- malapert,
- minimizing,
- nervy,
- objurgatory,
- pejorative,
- pert,
- priggish,
- regardless of consequences,
- rejective,
- renunciative,
- reproachful,
- reprobative,
- reviling,
- ridiculing,
- rude,
- sassy,
- saucy,
- scandalous,
- scoffing,
- scornful,
- scurrile,
- scurrilous,
- slanderous,
- slighting,
- smart,
- smart-alecky,
- smart-ass,
- sneering,
- sniffy,
- snobbish,
- snobby,
- snooty,
- snotty,
- supercilious,
- toploftical,
- toplofty,
- uncalled-for,
- vilifying,
- vituperative,
- wise-ass,
- withering