Contemptuous

adjective

/kənˈtɛmptjʊəs/

Showing or expressing contempt; manifesting an attitude of scorn or disdain toward a person, institution, or authority. In legal discourse, particularly under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (India), conduct that is contemptuous of judicial authority — either civil contempt (disobedience of a court order) or criminal contempt (scandalising the court) — is punishable under Articles 129 and 215 of the Constitution, read with the Act.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

The court noted that the petitioner's repeated failure to file the undertaking directed by it, combined with contemptuous remarks about the bench in public statements, warranted initiation of criminal contempt proceedings.

Synonyms

scornfuldisdainfulinsolentdisrespectfulderisive

Antonyms

respectfuldeferentialreverentobedient

🌱 Word Family

contempt (noun), contemptibly (adverb), contemptible (adjective), contemptuously (adverb), despise (cognate verb)

🔡 Root

Latin contemptus (scorn) ← contemnere (to despise) ← con- (intensive) + temnere (to slight)

📜 Etymology

From Latin contemptuosus, an adjective derived from contemptus (the act of despising). The Latin contemnere likely related to a root meaning 'to cut' or 'to slight'. The word entered English in the late 16th century through legal and literary use.

🧠 Memory Hook

CONTEMPTUOUS contains CONTEMPT. If you con-TEMPT someone by tempting them to anger through scorn, your attitude is contemptuous. The CON (against) + TEMPT: acting against respect.

⚖️ Polity & Constitution 📖 Seen in: Preamble of the Indian Constitution

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