contemptuous adj. + Add to list US //kənˈtɛmptʃuəs// UK //kəntˈɛmptʃuːəs// con·temp·tu·ous Archaic SynonymsEtymology Synonyms disdainfulinsultingscornfulOriginLATcontemptus→ENcontemptuous From Latin contemptus (whence contempt) + -ous.