Definition

The state of being deserving of scorn or disdain; the quality of being regarded as worthless or inferior.

Example

His actions showed a level of contemptibility that shocked everyone around him.

Conversation

Did you see how he treated that waiter?

Yeah, it was really rude and showed his contemptibility.

I can't believe some people act like that in public.

Right? It’s just sad to see such contemptibility in others.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Contemptibility is formed from "contempt" (from Latin "contemptus", meaning scorn or disdain) and the suffix "-ibility" (meaning the quality of being). The word refers to the quality of being deserving of scorn or disdain.

Memory Tip

Think of 'contempt' as feeling scornful and '-ibility' as indicating a quality. This helps you remember that 'contemptibility' means the quality of being scorned.

Visually Confused Words