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- Dictionarycontumely/ˈkɒntjuːmɪli/
noun
- 1. insolent or insulting language or treatment: archaic "the Church should not be exposed to gossip and contumely"
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: harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt. also : an instance of such language or treatment. Did you know? Geoffrey Chaucer was writing about the sin of contumelie, as it was spelled in Middle English, back in the late 1300s.
criticisms or insults that show a lack of respect: She was indifferent to praise and contumely alike. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Insults & abuse. abusive. abusively. backhanded compliment. brickbat. cut (someone) to the quick idiom.
Contumely definition: insulting display of contempt in words or actions; contemptuous or humiliating treatment.. See examples of CONTUMELY used in a sentence.
Contumely is an old-fashioned term that means "nasty, insulting speech," like the contumely heaped on the opposing team by a home team's fans. Don't be led astray by that -ly ending: contumely is a noun, not an adverb.
1. scornful or insulting language or behaviour. 2. a humiliating or scornful insult. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Derived forms. contumelious (ˌkɒntjʊˈmiːlɪəs ) adjective. contumeliously (ˌcontuˈmeliously) adverb. contumeliousness (ˌcontuˈmeliousness) noun. Word origin.
An act that offends a person's sense of pride or dignity: affront, despite, indignity, insult, offense, outrage, slight. slap in the face. 2. Harsh, often insulting language: abuse, billingsgate, invective, obloquy, railing, revilement, reviling, scurrility, scurrilousness, vituperation.
criticisms or insults that show a lack of respect: She was indifferent to praise and contumely alike. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Insults & abuse. abusive. abusively. backhanded compliment. brickbat. cut (someone) to the quick idiom.
Noun. Filter. noun. contumelies. Haughty and contemptuous rudeness; insulting and humiliating treatment or language. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. An instance of this; scornful insult. Webster's New World. Similar definitions. Synonyms: vilification. revilement. abuse. insult. reproach. remark. scorn. rudeness. arrogance. insulting.
Definitions of 'contumely' 1. haughty and contemptuous rudeness; insulting and humiliating treatment or language. [...] 2. an instance of this; scornful insult. [...] More. Synonyms of 'contumely' • scorn, abuse, insult, contempt [...] More. Examples of 'contumely' in a sentence.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024 How to use contumely in a sentence The pedlers find satisfaction for all contumelies in making good bargains out of their customers.
