Meaning & use

contemptible

adjective·Advanced

Deserving scorn or disgust because of behavior that is morally low, dishonest, or cruel.

See it in a sentence

Abandoning his injured teammate mid-race was seen as a contemptible act by everyone on the team.

The critics called the film's treatment of its victims contemptible and deeply offensive.

A note on using this word

Do not confuse contemptible, meaning deserving scorn, with contemptuous, meaning showing scorn toward someone else.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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