Literary notes about Contemptuous (AI summary)
In literature, "contemptuous" functions as a powerful descriptor to convey attitudes of disdain, derision, and superiority. Authors use it to capture subtle yet cutting facial expressions—a half-smile or an ironic glance that silently belittles others, as when a contemptuous smile is capable of cutting like a knife [1] or when it underscores a rejection of norms or money’s allure [2]. The term not only enriches character dynamics by revealing hidden scorn or social defiance but also brings a layer of irony and bitter humor to the narrative, evident in diverse portrayals from classical epics to modern realist works [3][4].
- Something cruel and contemptuous from Katya would have cut him like a knife at that moment.
— from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky - There is nothing of which he is more contemptuous than the love of money.
— from The Republic by Plato - To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton - She knew that she, Sonia, was the chief reason for the ‘genteel’ ladies’ contemptuous treatment of Katerina Ivanovna’s invitation.
— from Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
