Contempt vs Disrespect

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Contempt

Formal Top 5,000 (fairly common) C1 noun

Disrespect

Top 3,000 (common)

Most formal: Contempt Most common: Disrespect

	Contempt	Disrespect
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/kənˈtempt/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kənˈtempt/"]/	🇬🇧 //dɪsˈrɛspɛkt// 🇺🇸 //dɪsˈrɛspɛkt//
Meaning	A feeling of disrespect or dislike for someone or something	Not showing respect to someone or something.
Example	He showed open contempt for the rules by deliberately breaking them.	His comments were viewed as disrespect toward the team.
Register	Formal	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 3,000 (common)
CEFR level	C1	-
Part of speech	noun
Collocations	complete, deep, great, feel, have, hold somebody/​something in, contempt for, beneath contempt, with contempt, complete, deep, great, feel, have, hold somebody/​something in, contempt for, beneath contempt, with contempt, civil, criminal, be held in, in contempt	show disrespect, have disrespect, disrespect authority, disrespect others, accept disrespect
Antonyms	respect, admiration	respect, honor, admiration, regard
Common mistakes	Confused with 'contemptuous', which describes someone with contempt rather than the feeling itself., Used incorrectly as a verb; 'contempt' is a noun., Overusing in casual conversation, which can dilute its seriousness.	Using 'disrespect' as a verb incorrectly, should say 'disrespecting'., Confusing 'disrespect' with 'dishonor'., Using 'disrespect' without an object, like 'He showed disrespect.'
Usage notes	Used in serious contexts, often in legal or moral discussions. Avoid in casual conversations, as it may sound overly strong or negative.	Use 'disrespect' in situations where someone is being rude or inconsiderate. It's appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, but avoid it in overly casual settings.

See it in real clips

I meant no disrespect to you or your daughter.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

I-- I meant no disrespect, ser, honest.

Mr. Wolf, listen. I don't mean disrespect, okay ? I respect you.

I meant no disrespect to you or your daughter.

A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms › S1 E1

I-- I meant no disrespect, ser, honest.

Disrespect

Frequently asked questions: Contempt vs Disrespect

What's the difference between Contempt and Disrespect?

Contempt: A feeling of disrespect or dislike for someone or something Disrespect: Not showing respect to someone or something.

Which is more formal: Contempt and Disrespect?

Contempt is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Contempt and Disrespect?

Disrespect is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Contempt: He showed open contempt for the rules by deliberately breaking them. Disrespect: His comments were viewed as disrespect toward the team.

Can I use Contempt and Disrespect interchangeably?

Not always. Contempt and Disrespect are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.