1. to regard or treat as worthless; to despise or scorn
Usage: formal; archaic

Examples

• The proud nobleman would contemn anyone he considered beneath his station.
• She refused to contemn her opponent despite their bitter rivalry.
• Ancient philosophers warned against contemning wisdom in favor of material wealth.
• The critic’s tendency to contemn popular literature made him unpopular with readers.
• He learned not to contemn the advice of his elders.
• The tyrant would contemn the pleas of his subjects.