Word: contemptuous (adjective)

Associations

Contemptuous means showing or expressing contempt, which is a feeling that someone or something is worthless or inferior. It describes a negative attitude toward someone or something.

• Example 1: The teacher gave a contemptuous look to the student who was sleeping in class. (The teacher felt the student was disrespectful and unworthy of attention.)
• Example 2: In the debate, he made a contemptuous remark about his opponent’s argument. (His comment showed he thought the argument was silly or not good.)
• Example 3: She rolled her eyes in a contemptuous way when she heard the gossip. (Her reaction showed she thought the gossip was beneath her.)

A well-known synonym is "scornful." The important difference is that "contemptuous" often implies a stronger, more intense feeling of dislike or disdain than "scornful," which can sometimes just mean dismissive.

Substitution

You can use different phrases instead of "contemptuous" based on the context:

• Disdainful: This also means a lack of respect, but it can sound more formal.
• Derisive: This means mocking or ridiculing someone.
• Scornful: Tends to indicate that you feel the other person deserves to be looked down upon.

Using these words can slightly change the tone. For example, "disdainful" might sound more elegant, while "derisive" suggests outright mockery.

Deconstruction

The word "contemptuous" comes from the root "contempt," which means a feeling that something is beneath consideration. The suffix "-uous" typically indicates "full of" or "having the quality of," so "contemptuous" essentially means "full of contempt."

Historically, the word has Latin roots, deriving from "contemptus," which means "scorn" or "disregard." Understanding this helps to see that it has always had this negative connotation.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you felt contemptuous towards someone or something? What made you feel that way?
• How would you express contempt in a more constructive way?
• Are there situations where being contemptuous might be understood or justified? Why or why not?