contemn
Regard with disdain
To contemn is to treat with contempt—to scorn or despise utterly.
The word is formal and literary, more likely found in older texts than contemporary speech: He contemned their offers of compromise.
Where "condemn" judges something wrong, contemn dismisses it as beneath consideration.
Scornful disregard
- despiseHate with contempt
- loatheIntensely dislike
- detestFeel strong aversion
- abhorIntensely dislike, with disgust
revile · spurn · sneer · scoff · mock · deride · ridicule · jeer
Refuse with contempt
- repudiateReject as having no authority
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- shunDeliberately keep away
- dismissSend away or reject
renounce · disavow · abjure · disown · eschew · forsake · cast aside · turn away
disdain
Scornful disregard
abhor · revile · spurn · sneer · scoff · mock · deride · ridicule · jeer · taunt
spurn
Refuse with contempt
dismiss · renounce · disavow · abjure · disown · eschew · forsake · cast aside · turn away · refuse
insult
Offensive remark or action
dishonor · degrade · humiliate · affront · offend · slight · disesteem · discredit · defame · vilify
condemn
Declare wrong or guilty
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- denouncePublicly declare wrongdoing
- reproachExpression of disappointment
rebuke · reprimand · castigate · excoriate · upbraid · chastise · berate · lambaste · pillory · inveigh
- criminal contemptObstruction punishable by judge
- contempt of courtDisobedience toward judicial authority
- held in contemptViewed with utter scorn
- hold in contemptFeel utter disrespect toward
- holding in contemptFeeling deep disrespect toward
- contempt of CongressOffense of obstructing legislative authority