1. regarding or treating as worthless; despising
Usage: archaic; formal

Examples

• The proud nobleman was contemning the peasants who worked his land.
• She found herself contemning his shallow values and materialistic lifestyle.
• The philosopher wrote about contemning worldly pleasures in favor of spiritual growth.
• He was contemning the very traditions that had shaped his upbringing.
• The critic was contemning the artist’s work as derivative and uninspired.