contumely
Harsh, disdainful treatment
Contumely is insulting language or treatment arising from arrogance or contempt.
The word is literary and old-fashioned, familiar mainly from Hamlet's "the proud man's contumely." It suggests not just rudeness but deliberate humiliation from someone who considers themselves superior: She endured years of contumely from her in-laws.
The adjective is contumelious.
Deliberate public insult
- invectiveAbusive denunciation
- vituperationBitter verbal abuse
- obloquyAbusive denunciation or disgrace
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
aspersion · calumny · slander · libel · defamation · denigration · disparagement · abuse
Decline in condition
- abasementState of being lowered
- belittlementVerbal diminishing of worth
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- disgraceLoss of honor
dishonor · shame · indignity · debasement · demeaning · ignominy · opprobrium · stigma
Disdainful disregard
- disdainScornful disregard
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
- ridiculeContemptuous mocking treatment
sneering · scoffing · jeering · taunting · scornfulness · disdainfulness · superciliousness · condescension
Disdainful sense of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- imperiousnessDomineering, superior demeanor
- high-handednessDomineering disregard for others
- pomposityExaggerated sense of importance
hubris · lordliness · loftiness · presumption · insolence · effrontery · audacity · brazenness
affront
Deliberate public insult
- invectiveAbusive denunciation
- vituperationBitter verbal abuse
- obloquyAbusive denunciation or disgrace
vilification · aspersion · calumny · slander · libel · defamation · denigration · disparagement · abuse · rebuke
degradation
Decline in condition
- abasementState of being lowered
- belittlementVerbal diminishing of worth
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
disgrace · dishonor · shame · indignity · debasement · demeaning · ignominy · opprobrium · stigma · demoralization
contempt
Disdainful disregard
ridicule · sneering · scoffing · jeering · taunting · scornfulness · disdainfulness · superciliousness · condescension · haughtiness
haughtiness
Disdainful sense of superiority
- superciliousnessScornful sense of superiority
- imperiousnessDomineering, superior demeanor
- high-handednessDomineering disregard for others
pomposity · hubris · lordliness · loftiness · presumption · insolence · effrontery · audacity · brazenness · imperviousness
- invectiveabuse, insult, insults, slur, vilification
- condemnationcondemnation, censure, rebuke, denunciation, reproach
- rudenessrude, discourtesy, impolite, rudeness, disrespect