held in contempt
Regarded with disdain
Held in contempt describes someone formally found by a court to have defied its authority—by ignoring a subpoena, violating a court order, or disrupting proceedings: The witness was held in contempt for refusing to testify.
The phrase also applies outside legal contexts to mean regarded with scorn or disdain: His cowardice was held in contempt by his peers.
- obloquyAbusive denunciation or disgrace
- opprobriumSevere public disapproval
- ignominyState of dishonor
- public shamingCommunal reputational punishment
- disdainScornful disregard
looked down upon · scorn · ostracism · derision · dishonor · censure · disgrace · legal penalty · blackballing · vilified · tarred and feathered · disrespect · pariah · social outcast · shame · fallen from grace · ridicule · sneering