What does contemptibly mean?
Contemptibly is an adverb describing conduct that merits contempt — behaviour so mean, cowardly, or dishonourable that it invites scorn. A person who cheats a vulnerable neighbour, betrays a confidant for petty gain, or shifts blame onto the innocent acts contemptibly. The word can also describe things judged shamefully deficient, most commonly in the phrase 'a contemptibly small' sum or effort, where it signals that something falls far below any acceptable standard. Derived from the Latin verb contemnere, 'to despise', it belongs to the same family as contempt, contemptible, and contemptuous. It carries an unambiguously negative tone and appears chiefly in formal writing, criticism, and moral commentary rather than casual conversation. Because it closely resembles contemptuously, which describes the display of scorn itself, careful writers distinguish between the two: the contemptible person earns disdain, while the contemptuous one delivers it.
In a manner deserving of contempt; meanly, basely, or in a way that invites scorn.
"He behaved contemptibly by taking credit for work he had not done."
Formal register; often applied to moral failings rather than mere incompetence.
To a shamefully inadequate degree, especially of size, amount, or effort.
"The charity received a contemptibly small share of the funds raised."
Most common in the fixed phrase 'contemptibly small'.
Contemptibly and contemptuously look like twins, but one names the coward who earns your scorn — and the other names you, scowling right back.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of contemptibly
Contemptibly derives from the Latin verb contemnere, meaning 'to despise or treat with scorn', formed on the root temnere, 'to slight'. The noun contempt entered English via Old French from Latin contemptus in the late fourteenth century, and the adjective contemptible followed in the sixteenth century. The adverb contemptibly developed from that adjective, appearing by roughly the seventeenth century. It shares its Latin ancestry with contemptuous and, through the broader Indo-European root underlying terms of looking and scorning, with words such as despicable.
Related word forms
How contemptibly is actually used
The word carries strongly negative connotation and sits in a formal or literary register more than everyday speech; speakers often reach for plainer words such as 'disgracefully' or 'shamefully'. Care should be taken not to confuse it with 'contemptuously', which describes the person doing the scorning rather than the person deserving it.
Easily confused with contemptibly
Contemptibly describes someone acting in a way that deserves contempt, while contemptuously describes someone feeling or showing contempt towards another.