Contemptuous
adj. /kənˈtemptʃuəs/ (کَنٹیمپچوئَس)Showing contempt; feeling or expressing that someone or something deserves no respect.
Contemptuous Meaning in Urdu
In everyday Urdu, contemptuous describes someone who openly shows they think something or someone deserves no respect.
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1
Showing scorn or open disrespectتوہین آمیز
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2
Feeling that something or someone deserves no respectحقیر سمجھنے والا
“Contemptuous” is stronger and more open than “dismissive” — it clearly shows disrespect through tone, expression, or words.
Word Details
| Word | Contemptuous |
| Part of Speech | Adjective |
| CEFR Level | C1 |
| Difficulty | Ielts |
| Urdu Meaning | توہین آمیز، حقارت آمیز |
| English Meaning | Openly showing scorn or a lack of respect |
| Pronunciation | /kənˈtemptʃuəs/ |
| Word Type | Formal, negative adjective |
| Commonness | Common in literary and formal critical writing |
Pronunciation
Simple English Explanation
Use “contemptuous” for someone who openly shows they think something or someone deserves no respect — a contemptuous laugh, a contemptuous remark that dismisses someone’s effort entirely.
اردو وضاحت
“Contemptuous” اس شخص کے لیے استعمال ہوتا ہے جو کھلے عام ظاہر کرے کہ وہ کسی چیز یا شخص کو کوئی عزت دینے کے قابل نہیں سمجھتا۔
Example Sentences
Synonyms
Nuance: “Dismissive” implies ignoring something without much emotion; “contemptuous” implies actively and visibly showing disrespect or scorn, often with real hostility.
Antonyms
Common Collocations
Word Family
| Form | Word |
|---|---|
| Adjective | Contemptuous |
| Noun | Contempt |
| Adverb | Contemptuously |
Related verb: to hold in contempt (used with ‘hold’).
Contemptuous vs Condescending
“Condescending” describes talking down to someone as if superior, often through unnecessary explanation — a patronizing manner.
“Contemptuous” is stronger and more openly hostile: it shows genuine scorn and a belief that something or someone deserves no respect at all, not just a patronizing tone.
Common Mistakes
IELTS Usage
Writing: Useful in Task 2 essays about respect, social behaviour, or workplace culture.
Speaking: Works well describing an unpleasant interaction in Part 2 or 3.
Example: “A contemptuous attitude toward customer complaints can seriously damage a company’s reputation.”
MDCAT / Academic Usage
Not scientific vocabulary; appears in literature and social studies passages describing characters’ attitudes or historical conflicts.
Word Origin / Etymology
From Latin contemptus, past participle of contemnere (“to scorn, despise”), combining con- (intensifier) and temnere (to despise).
Memory Tip
“Contempt” + “-uous” = full of contempt — the word literally means “full of scorn.”
Mini Quiz
1. Meaning of “contemptuous”:
2. Correct sentence:
3. Antonym of “contemptuous”:
Score: 0 / 3
FAQs
What is the meaning of contemptuous in Urdu?
Contemptuous means توہین آمیز، حقارت آمیز — showing contempt or a belief that something deserves no respect.
Is contemptuous a noun, verb, or adjective?
Adjective; the noun form is contempt and the adverb is contemptuously.
What are the synonyms of contemptuous?
Scornful, disdainful, derisive, and dismissive — with nuance explained above.