outright contempt

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "outright contempt" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a strong and open display of disdain or disrespect towards someone or something. Example: "His remarks were filled with outright contempt for the opposing viewpoint."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Another NRA member, Amber, a 27-year-old from Pennsylvania who declined to give her last name, expressed outright contempt for her organization's favored candidate.

Vice

It's depressing to see the campaigns on both sides treating the public with such outright contempt.

The Guardian - Opinion

But making substantive concessions almost always invites extortion and breeds disrespect or outright contempt.

Harvard Business Review

More often they are expressions of frustration with politics and sometimes of outright contempt for it.

The Guardian - Books

Interviews from the 80s often saw him being treated with outright contempt by his interlocutors.

The Guardian - Music

Outright contempt greeted all the requests from Judge May for answers to his questions.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

A Soviet-era law that punished same-sex relations between men with prison time was repealed in 1993, but the subject has long remained taboo outside a smattering of bars and clubs in major Russian cities. Attempts in recent years to hold gay rights rallies have been met with contempt and outright hostility from officials and religious groups, and have occasionally turned bloody.

The New York Times

Most of the characters who inspired outright adoration or contempt have moved on.

The New York Times

In some few cases there was outright hatred and contempt; always, without exception, the memory of the man was vivid.

The Guardian - Books

That they would pass up several opportunities to own up to this flagrant error in journalistic ethics adds outright cowardice and contempt for their readers to this crime.

Huffington Post

Disengagement from politics and indifference to what we do have given way to outright public ridicule and contempt.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "outright contempt" to convey a strong, direct, and often publicly displayed feeling of disrespect or disdain. Ensure the context supports such a forceful emotion.

Common error

While "outright contempt" is a powerful phrase, avoid using it excessively in formal or professional writing where a more nuanced expression of disagreement or criticism might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "outright contempt" functions as a noun phrase, where "outright" modifies the noun "contempt", intensifying the feeling of disdain or disrespect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is both correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

5%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "outright contempt" effectively conveys a strong and unconcealed feeling of disrespect or disdain. As Ludwig AI validates, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various domains, notably in news, academia, and formal business settings. The intensity of "outright contempt" makes it most fitting for scenarios where the emotion is not only present but also manifestly displayed. While powerful, it's wise to avoid overuse in formal writing where subtlety may be preferred. Consider alternatives such as "blatant disdain" or "unconcealed scorn" to fine-tune the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blatant disdain

Replaces "contempt" with "disdain" and "outright" with "blatant", emphasizing the overt nature of the feeling.

sheer contempt

Uses "sheer" to amplify the feeling of contempt, highlighting its intensity.

unconcealed scorn

Focuses on the lack of attempt to hide the feeling, using "scorn" as a synonym for contempt.

undisguised contempt

Similar to "unconcealed scorn", emphasizing the openness of the contempt.

absolute disdain

Uses "absolute" to strengthen the feeling of disdain, similar to using "sheer".

pure contempt

Highlights the unmixed and unadulterated nature of the contempt.

utter contempt

Uses "utter" as an intensifier to emphasize the completeness of the contempt.

complete disdain

Similar to "absolute disdain", emphasizing the totality of the feeling.

open contempt

Highlights the overt and public nature of the contempt.

flagrant contempt

Emphasizes the shocking and obvious nature of the contempt.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "outright contempt" in a sentence?

Use "outright contempt" to describe a situation where someone displays a clear and unconcealed feeling of disdain or disrespect. For example, "The politician's speech was met with "outright contempt" by the opposing party".

What are some alternatives to "outright contempt"?

You can use alternatives like "blatant disdain", "sheer contempt", or "unconcealed scorn" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "outright contempt" and "disdain"?

"Contempt" implies a feeling of superiority and a lack of respect, while "disdain" suggests a feeling that something is unworthy of consideration. "Outright contempt" emphasizes the open and obvious display of this feeling, making it stronger than simply "disdain".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "outright contempt"?

It's appropriate when describing situations where someone's feelings of disrespect are not only present but are also openly expressed and clearly visible. It adds emphasis to the strength and visibility of the emotion.