contemptuous

adjective. nasty, mocking in speech

adjective. disdainful

Word Origin & History

1590s, from Latin contemptus (see contempt). Related: Contemptuously.

A new respect for him, also a new pity that was generous and not contemptuous, crept into his heart.

Then she faced the lawyer again, with an aloofness of manner that was contemptuous.

Could the master of language find no better word than the contemptuous one?

She gave it one contemptuous glance, and turning, came back to the door.

He was heard, under his breath, to pronounce a contemptuous Pshaw!

She thought his laugh the most contemptuous, the cruelest sound in the world.

The Major lifted his bristly eyebrows with a contemptuous twitch.

In a few contemptuous pages Godwin buries the social contract.

General Bourgain-Desfeuilles gave a contemptuous shrug of his shoulders.

He spat two or three times into the water, with an expression of contemptuous anger.