Synonyms for contumelious
adj insolentbrazen
contemptuous
defamatory
- abusive
- calumnious
- contumelious
- denigrating
- derogatory
- detracting
- detractive
- disparaging
- injurious
- insulting
- maligning
- opprobrious
- traducing
- vilifying
- vituperative
derogatory
- aspersing
- belittling
- calumnious
- censorious
- contumelious
- critical
- damaging
- decrying
- defamatory
- degrading
- demeaning
- deprecatory
- depreciative
- despiteful
- detracting
- disdainful
- dishonoring
- disparaging
- fault-finding
- humiliating
- injurious
- malevolent
- malicious
- maligning
- minimizing
- opprobrious
- reproachful
- sarcastic
- scornful
- slanderous
- slighting
- spiteful
- unfavorable
- unflattering
- vilifying
Word Origin & History
late 15c., from Old French contumelieus, from Latin contumeliosus "reproachful, insolently abusive," from contumelia (see contumely).
Example Sentences forcontumelious
If I had been bred in the east, I should be tempted to say it was a contumelious responsibility.
I weep and cry out, I have been a most contumelious offender.
She turned the combs and brushes over with a contumelious hand.
Who now hath plumbed the depths of a contumelious paronomasia?
Although I curled a contumelious lip, I smarted under the indignity.
It would have liked him well to bring this contumelious varlet to his knees.
Who before was a blasphemer and a persecutor and contumelious.
The wrong was committed hastily, and with contumelious levity.
It was a day without a breath of wind, such as alternate in the archipelago with days of contumelious breezes.
He who with delight hears idle discourse or contumelious words, makes his ear a gate of death to himself.