Contemn

• POS: Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: con=temn

CIDE DICTIONARY

Contemn, v. t. [L. contemnere, -temptum; con- + temnere to slight, despise: cf. OF. contemner.].

 To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn.  [1913 Webster]
"Thy pompous delicacies I contemn."  [1913 Webster]
"One who contemned divine and human laws."

Syn. -- To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate; overlook.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Contemn, v.tr. literary despise; treat with disregard.

Derivative

contemner n.

Etymology

ME f. OF contemner or L contemnere (as com-, temnere tempt- despise)

THESAURUS

Contemn

abhor, abjure, be above, be contemptuous of, brush aside, care nothing for, chuck, chuck out, contradict, decline, deny, deride, despise, disapprove, discard, disclaim, discount, disdain, dismiss, disown, disparage, disprize, disregard, dump on, except, exclude, feel contempt for, feel superior to, forswear, hold beneath one, hold cheap, hold in contempt, ignore, insult, look down upon, misprize, pass by, pass up, push aside, put down, rank low, rebuff, recant, refuse, refuse to consider, reject, renounce, repel, repudiate, repulse, ridicule, scorn, scout, set at naught, shove away, sneer at, sneeze at, sniff at, snort at, spurn, think nothing of, throw away, throw out, turn away, turn out, waive

ROGET THESAURUS

Contemn

Contempt

VB despise, contemn, scorn, disdain, feel contempt for, view with a scornful eye, disregard, slight, not mind, pass by, look down upon, hold cheap, hold in contempt, hold in disrespect, think nothing of, think small beer of, make light of, underestimate, esteem slightly, esteem of small or no account, take no account of, care nothing for, set no store by, not care a straw, sneeze at, set at naught, laugh in one's sleeve, laugh up one's sleeve, snap one's fingers at, shrug one's shoulders, turn up one's nose at, pooh-pooh, damn with faint praise, whistle at, sneer at, curl up one's lip, toss the head, traiter de haut enbas, laugh at, point the finger of scorn, hold up to scorn, laugh to scorn, scout, hoot, flout, hiss, scoff at, turn one's back upon, turn a cold shoulder upon, tread upon, trample upon, trample under foot, spurn, kick, fling to the winds, send away with a flea in the ear.