What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contemptful
Example
She gave him a contemptful look when he suggested the idea. [contemptful: adjective]
Example
He spoke in a contemptful tone when he talked about his boss. [contemptful: adjective]
scornful
Example
She gave him a scornful laugh when he suggested the idea. [scornful: adjective]
Example
He spoke in a scornful tone when he talked about his coworker's mistake. [scornful: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Contemptful and scornful are both less common words and may not be frequently used in everyday language. However, scornful is slightly more common than contemptful.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contemptful and scornful?
Contemptful is more commonly used in formal contexts, such as academic writing or legal documents, while scornful is more commonly used in informal contexts, such as everyday conversations or social media posts.
