Contemptuous means showing that you think someone or something is worthless or beneath you. When you're contemptuous, you look down on something with a mixture of disrespect and disgust, treating it as if it has no value.

Picture a student rolling their eyes and sneering while another student presents their project, acting like the ideas aren't even worth listening to. That's a contemptuous attitude. Or imagine someone speaking in a mocking, sarcastic tone about a neighbor's garden, treating their hard work like a joke. The contemptuous person acts superior, as if they're so far above the other person that they can barely be bothered to pay attention.

You might give someone a contemptuous look, curling your lip in disgust. Someone might speak in a contemptuous tone, dripping with scorn. A bully often shows contempt for their victim, treating them as if they don't matter.

Contemptuous is a harsh word for a harsh attitude. It's different from simply disagreeing with someone or not liking their ideas. When you're contemptuous, you're dismissing them entirely, treating them as if they have no value at all. It reveals more about the person showing contempt than the person receiving it.