Contemptuous

Pronunciation: /kənˈtɛmptʃuəs/

Definitions of contemptuous

adjective showing contempt; scornful

Example Sentences

A1 She gave him a contemptuous look when he made a mistake.

A2 The teacher's tone was contemptuous as she scolded the students for not paying attention.

B1 The politician's contemptuous remarks about his opponent caused a stir in the media.

B2 The CEO's contemptuous attitude towards his employees led to low morale in the company.

C1 The author's contemptuous portrayal of the main character revealed his disdain for traditional values.

C2 Her contemptuous dismissal of his ideas only served to fuel his determination to prove her wrong.

Examples of contemptuous in a Sentence

formal She shot him a contemptuous look before turning away.

informal He gave her a contemptuous glare as she walked by.

slang The way she rolled her eyes was so contemptuous.

figurative His contemptuous attitude towards authority figures often got him in trouble.

Grammatical Forms of contemptuous

• past tense: contemned
• plural: contemptuous
• comparative: more contemptuous
• superlative: most contemptuous
• present tense: contemns
• future tense: will contemn
• perfect tense: have contemned
• continuous tense: is contemning
• singular: contemptuous
• positive degree: contemptuous
• infinitive: to contemn
• gerund: contemning
• participle: contemning

Origin and Evolution of contemptuous

First Known Use: 0015 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'contemptuous' originated from the Latin word 'contemptuosus', which is derived from 'contemptus' meaning scorn or disdain.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the 15th century, 'contemptuous' has retained its core meaning of showing disdain or scorn towards something or someone. Over time, its usage has expanded to encompass a range of negative attitudes and behaviors towards others.