Definitions Related words Phrases Mentions Lyrics History Colors (New!)

Literary notes about contempt (AI summary)

Across literary works, "contempt" emerges as a multifaceted term used to express disdain, moral judgment, and personal or societal disapproval. Philosophers and novelists alike harness the word to signal both inner revulsion and a broader cultural critique; for instance, Nietzsche deploys it to capture a scorn for the human condition, while Tolstoy links financial greed to a loss of public respect ([1],[2]). The term is equally versatile in character portrayals, marking the dismissive attitudes of figures who regard others with derision or feel internally alienated, as seen when a sibling exchanges a cutting remark or a character’s self-loathing is laid bare ([3],[4]). In classical texts, contempt is interwoven with themes of fate, pride, and the burdens of life, serving as a critical lens through which characters and societies are examined ([5],[6]).
  1. The anarchist. Contempt of man, loathing.
    — from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book I and II by Nietzsche
  2. All these people, just like our spirit monopolists in old days, get their money in a way that gains them the contempt of everyone.
    — from Anna Karenina by graf Leo Tolstoy
  3. You are a chicken-hearted fellow, Gania!” said Varia, looking at her brother with contempt.
    — from The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
  4. My contempt and my longing increase together; the higher I clamber, the more do I despise him who clambereth.
    — from Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
  5. The fool of fate, thy manufacture, man, With penury, contempt, repulse, and care, The galling load of life is doom'd to bear.
    — from The Odyssey by Homer
  6. Love make his heart of flint that you shall love; And let your fervour, like my master's, be Plac'd in contempt!
    — from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

More usage examples

Also see: Google, News, Images, Wikipedia, Reddit, BlueSky


Home   Reverse Dictionary / Thesaurus   Datamuse   Word games   Spruce   Feedback   Dark mode   Random word   Help


Color thesaurus

Use OneLook to find colors for words and words for colors

See an example

Literary notes

Use OneLook to learn how words are used by great writers

See an example

Word games

Try our innovative vocabulary games

Play Now

Read the latest OneLook newsletter issue: Compound Your Joy