Contemptuous and Deferential

Opposite meaning words

Contemptuous adjective - Feeling or showing open dislike for someone or something regarded as undeserving of respect or concern.

Usage example: loutish tourists who are contemptuous of the ways and traditions of their host countries

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Deferential is an antonym for contemptuous in scornful topic.

Deferential adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.

Usage example: the man had the deferential attitude of someone who had been a servant his entire life

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Contemptuous is an antonym for deferential.

Cite this Source

Deferential and Contemptuous. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contemptuous/deferential

Contemptuous & Deferential. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contemptuous/deferential>.

Deferential or Contemptuous. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contemptuous/deferential.

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