Meaning & use
contemptuous tone
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Meanings
nouncountable
a way of speaking or writing that shows you think someone or something deserves no respect.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a contemptuous tone or a contemptuous tone of voice.
Patterns
- in a contemptuous tone
- a contemptuous tone of voice
- speak in a contemptuous tone
He described his rival's ideas in a contemptuous tone that made everyone uncomfortable.
Her email had a contemptuous tone, as if the whole team were incompetent.
The critic's review was written in a contemptuous tone from the first sentence.
nounsingularfigurative
the general feeling of scorn that runs through a piece of writing or speech.
Grammar: Often used with 'the': the contemptuous tone of the article.
Patterns
- the contemptuous tone of something
- adopt a contemptuous tone
The contemptuous tone of the report surprised even his supporters.
You can hear the contemptuous tone of the speech without understanding a word of it.
Common combinations
- in a contemptuous tone
- She answered in a contemptuous tone and walked away.
- a contemptuous tone of voice
- His contemptuous tone of voice made the question sound like an insult.
- adopt a contemptuous tone
- The writer adopts a contemptuous tone when discussing politicians.
- the contemptuous tone of the article
- Readers complained about the contemptuous tone of the article.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scornful tone
- Very close, but 'scornful' often suggests open mockery, while 'contemptuous' suggests a cold belief that someone is beneath you.
- disdainful tone
- Similar, but 'disdainful' often implies a sense of superiority rather than active dislike.
- derisive tone
- Stronger and more mocking: it suggests laughter at someone, not just lack of respect.
Opposites
Word family
- contempt noun
- The feeling that someone or something is worthless and deserves no respect.
- contemptuous adjective
- Showing contempt: a contemptuous look.
- contemptuously adverb
- In a way that shows contempt: she laughed contemptuously.
Commonly confused: contemptuous tone or contemptible?
contemptuous tone vs contemptible
'Contemptible' describes someone who deserves contempt; 'contemptuous' describes someone who feels contempt. A contemptuous person may be contemptible, but the words are not interchangeable.
Practice
Choose the sentence that uses 'contemptuous tone' correctly.
Choose one answer.
A contemptuous tone shows a lack of respect, so option 2 fits. Option 1 is contradictory because apologizing and showing respect do not go with contempt. Option 3 is unlikely because explaining clearly does not require contempt. Option 4 is ungrammatical: you need 'a contemptuous tone' or 'a feeling of contempt'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “contemptuous tone”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.