What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contemned
Example
The politician was contemned by the public for his dishonesty. [contemned: verb]
Example
Her contemned attitude towards her coworkers made it difficult to work with her. [contemned: adjective]
scorn
Example
He looked at her with scorn when she suggested the idea. [scorn: noun]
Example
She scorned his proposal, saying it was ridiculous. [scorned: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Scorn is more commonly used than contemned in everyday language. Scorn is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while contemned is less common and more likely to be used in formal writing or speech.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contemned and scorn?
Contemned is typically associated with a more formal tone, while scorn can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
