contemptuously

Contemptuously is an adverb describing an action, gesture, or speech performed with contempt, scorn, or a strong sense of disapproval toward a person, idea, or thing. It conveys a demonstrative attitude that signals to others a belief that the target is beneath consideration or worthy of disdain.

Etymology traces contemptuously to the adjective contemptuous, which comes from contemptus in Latin, via Old French and Middle English. Contemptus originally meant “despised” or “scorned,” from contemnere, meaning “to despise.” The adverbial form developed in English by adding the suffix -ly to the adjective.

Usage and nuance: Contemptuously often appears in descriptive or narrative prose, journalism, and criticism. It marks not only disapproval but also an outward display of scorn, typically through tone, facial expression, gesture, or wording. The connotation is evaluative and tends to imply moral or ethical judgment. While concise and precise, the term carries a stronger emotional charge than more neutral alternatives like disdainfully or dismissively.

Examples: She waved contemptuously at the crowd. The reviewer spoke contemptuously of the proposal, offering little substantive critique. He shrugged contemptuously and walked away. In contrast, disdainfully and derisively can be similar in meaning but carry slightly different shades of attitude.

See also: Contempt, Contemptuous, Disdain, Derision.