Many people confuse the words contemptible and contemptuous. Contemptible means despicable. If something is contemptible, it is deserving of contempt.
- Spreading gossip is contemptible.
- All terrorists are contemptible.
Contemptuous means feeling contempt for someone or something.
- I am contemptuous of all terrorists. (= I feel contempt for all terrorists.)
- Snobs are usually contemptuous of people they feel to be inferior to them.
