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Criticism vs Contempt - What's the difference?

criticism | contempt |

As nouns the difference between criticism and contempt

is that criticism is the act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure while contempt is (uncountable) the state of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.

criticism

Noun

  • The act of criticising; a critical judgment passed or expressed; a critical observation or detailed examination and review; a critique; animadversion; censure.
  • The politician received a lot of public criticism for his controversial stance on the issue.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1874, author=Thomas Hardy, title=Far From the Madding Crowd, publisher=Barnes & Noble Classics (2005 publication of 1912 Wessex edition), page=276,
  • passage=Her attitude was that of a person who listens, either to the external world of sound, or to the discourse of thought. A close criticism might have detected signs proving that she was intent on the latter alternative.}}

    Derived terms

    * self-criticism * constructive criticism * destructive criticism * literary criticism

    References

    * *

    contempt

    Alternative forms

    * (obsolete) * (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (uncountable) The state of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
  • * , chapter=13
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes. He said that if you wanted to do anything for them, you must rule them, not pamper them.}}
  • The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
  • (legal) Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
  • Synonyms

    * See

    Antonyms

    * See

    Derived terms

    * contemptible * contempt of Congress * contempt of court * contempt of Parliament * contemptuous * familiarity breeds contempt