4 syllables: Con, temp, tu, ous. Stress on temp.
kuhn-TEMP-choo-uhs
/kəˈntɛmptʃuəs/
Contemptuous is pronounced kuhn-TEMP-choo-uhs (/kəˈntɛmptʃuəs/). It has four syllables (Con-temp-tu-ous), with the stress on "temp". Contemptuous is an adjective describing a scornful, disrespectful attitude or expression. It conveys strong disdain and looks or words that imply superiority and dismissal. The term often signals a negative judgment and a dismissive emotional stance toward someone or something.
adjectiveContemptuous is an adjective describing a scornful, disrespectful attitude or expression. It conveys strong disdain and looks or words that imply superiority and dismissal. The term often signals a negative judgment and a dismissive emotional stance toward someone or something.
How to Pronounce Contemptuous
"Her contemptuous smile implied she didn’t take the proposal seriously."
"The manager gave a contemptuous shrug when asked about the project’s failures."
"He spoke in a contemptuous tone, making it clear he doubted their competence."
Pronounce as /kənˈtɛm(p)t(t)uəs/ in US, with primary stress on TEM. Break it into con-TEMP-tu-ous when speaking: the 'con' is unstressed, 'temp' bears the main stress, then a light 'tu' followed by 'ous.' The final '-uous' often reduces to a light 'uəs' sound in fluent speech. Tip: practice syllable-tapping: con- TEMP -tu -ous; listen to native examples for the final /uəs/ cluster.
Common mistakes: misplacing stress (putting it on the first syllable con- instead of TEM), over-emphasizing the final -uous; or turning -tuous into -tious as in 'contentious.' Correction: keep TEMP as the nucleus with primary stress; reduce the final cluster to /-uəs/ rather than /-juəs/; ensure the /t/ in -pt- remains aspirated but not overarticulated. Practice with minimal pairs to feel the tempo shift.
US: /kənˈtɛm(p)tˌuəs/ with a clear /ɪ/ in TEM, rhotacized? not here; UK: /kənˈtemp(t)juːəs/ often preserves a clearer /j/ before /uː/ or /juː/; AU: /kənˈtem(p)t(j)uəs/ similar to UK but with broader vowels; note rhoticity differences don’t affect this word much since it is non-rhotic in British accents. Main variation lies in the middle vowel length and the final /əəs/ or /uəs/ realization.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster -pt- within TEMPT and the final -uous sequence that reduces to a diphthongal /uəs/. The tri-syllabic structure, with primary stress on the second syllable and a subtle secondary length on the third, can be tricky for non-native speakers. Practicing the inter-syllabic transitions and keeping the /t/ crisp but not glottalized helps stabilize the pronunciation.
In careful speech, you pronounce the /pt/ as two distinct velar-alveolar segments [p t], with a brief pause-like release between them; in fast connected speech, it can sound like a single t-like release or a light flapped t, but you should still aim for a crisp /pt/ cluster. Visualize holding the air briefly at the /p/ and releasing into /t/ for accuracy.
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US: rhotic? no impact here; UK: non-rhotic, potential slight vowel shortening; AUS: varies, often broader vowels and less vowel reduction. Vowels: US /ɪ/ vs UK /e/? ; IPA references provided for each section.
Contemptuous comes from the noun contempt, which derives from the Latin contemptus, meaning ‘a looking down upon,’ from temnere ‘to despise, scorn.’ The suffix -uous forms adjectives indicating having the quality of. Contemptus appears in Late Latin; the sense broadened in Old French as contemptueux and entered English with a similar meaning of ‘showing or expressing contempt.’ By the 16th century, contemptuous carried the nuance of openly showing disdain toward someone or something, often in manner or speech. Over time, it solidified into standard usage for describing attitudes, expressions, or actions marked by scorn and disrespect. The word has a formal, sometimes judicial or literary tone, and is frequently found in critiques of behavior, rhetoric, or social interactions. In modern usage, contemptuous often collocates with nouns like look, tone, remark, or attitude, reinforcing its sense of superiority and dismissal.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Contemptuous" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Contemptuous"
-ute sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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