- 1the feeling that someone or something is without value and deserves no respect at all She looked at him with contempt. I will treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves. His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for). Politicians seem to be generally held in contempt by ordinary people. contempt for somebody/something They had shown a contempt for the values she thought important.
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- 2contempt for something a lack of worry or fear about rules, danger, etc. The firefighters showed a contempt for their own safety. His remarks betray a staggering contempt for the truth (= are completely false).
- 3= contempt of court He could be jailed for two years for contempt. She was held in contempt for refusing to testify. Idioms
knowing someone or something very well may cause you to lose admiration and respect for them/it
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