contempt

Universal Words noun [U,sing.] 1 ~ (for sb/sth) the feeling that sb/sth is without value and deserves no respect at all: She looked at him with contempt. * I shall treat that suggestion with the contempt it deserves. * His treatment of his children is beneath contempt (= so unacceptable that it is not even worth feeling contempt for). * Politicians seem to be generally held in contempt by the police. * They had shown a contempt for the values she thought important. 2 ~ for sth a lack of worry or fear about rules, danger, etc: The firefighters showed a contempt for their own safety. * His remarks betray a staggering contempt for the truth (= are completely false). 3 = CONTEMPTOFCOURT: He could be jailed for two years for contempt. * She was held in contempt for refusing to testify. IDIOMS see FAMILIARITY