Contemn — Defs

01 v. t. To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn.

imp. & p. p. Contemned; p. pr. & vb. n. Contemning

1.
To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn.
“Thy pompous delicacies I contemn.” — Milton.

“One who contemned divine and human laws.” — Dryden.

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

-- To Contemn, Despise, Scorn, Disdain. Contemn is the generic term, and is applied especially to objects, qualities, etc., which are deemed contemptible, and but rarely to individuals; to despise is to regard or treat as mean, unbecoming, or worthless; to scorn is stronger, expressing a quick, indignant contempt; disdain is still stronger, denoting either unwarrantable pride and haughtiness or an abhorrence of what is base.