Contemptuous
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
Respectful
Respectful adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.
Usage example: the children were remarkably respectful while in the president's office
Contemptuous is an antonym for respectful.
Both words in one sentence
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The angels are always contemptuous toward the demons, but said demons alternate — sometimes mid-conversation — between subverting this trope, acting respectful, and (extremely rarely) genuinely being respectful toward the angels.
Source: Polite Villains, Rude Heroes
Cite this Source
Respectful and Contemptuous. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/contemptuous/respectful
Contemptuous & Respectful. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/contemptuous/respectful>.
Respectful or Contemptuous. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/contemptuous/respectful.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "contemptuous" and "respectful" have occurred on timeline