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Hideous vs Contemptible - What's the difference?

hideous | contemptible | Related terms |

Hideous is a related term of contemptible.


As adjectives the difference between hideous and contemptible

is that hideous is frightful; shocking; extremely ugly while contemptible is deserving contempt.

hideous

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Frightful; shocking; extremely ugly.
    • A piteous and hideous spectacle." .
  • Distressing or offensive to the ear; horrible.
  • * 1719 ,
    • He started up, growling at first, but finding his leg broken, fell down again; and then got upon three legs, and gave the most hideous roar that ever I heard.
  • Hateful; shocking.
    • Sure, you have some hideous matter to deliver. -

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "hideous" is often applied: monster, creature, man, face, thing, crime, form, death, aspect, spectacle, picture, roar, sound, manner, way, disease, mistake, shape, dress, fact, act, smile.

    Synonyms

    * frightful, ghastly, grim, grisly, grotesque, horrid, dreadful, terrible

    Derived terms

    * hideosity * hideously * hideousness

    contemptible

    English

    Alternative forms

    * contemptable

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • deserving contempt
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=between 1812 and 1814 , author= , title= , chapter=1 , passage=Miss Ward’s match, indeed, when it came to the point, was not contemptible : Sir Thomas being happily able to give his friend an income in the living of Mansfield...}}

    Synonyms

    * despicable