self-contempt

noun

self-con·​tempt ˌself-kən-ˈtem(p)t How to pronounce self-contempt (audio)
plural self-contempts
: contempt for oneself
Every second year, I resolve to lose weight, only to fail almost instantly, which tips me into a period of self-contempt which inevitably leads to more eating.Richard Glover

Examples of self-contempt in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Brilliance and self-contempt always interlock with Kennan. Nicholas Thompson, Foreign Affairs, 6 Dec. 2011 And then the awful demons of self-hate and self-contempt, a hugely negative self-image, took its place in the center of the victim’s being. . . . Mark Hertsgaard, TIME, 7 May 2024 If my childhood had been spent in the constant pursuit of being better, the seeds of perfectionism had blossomed into self-contempt. Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'self-contempt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-contempt was in 1563

Dictionary Entries Near self-contempt

Cite this Entry

“Self-contempt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-contempt. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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