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Preposition after adjective

Contemptuous of, to, towards, about or at?

Contemptuous of is the standard pattern. Towards can appear with behaviour directed at someone. Other combinations are uncommon or incorrect.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows contemptuous?

Use contemptuous of for feelings of disrespect or scorn. Contemptuous towards someone is also used for behaviour or attitude directed at a person.

She was contemptuous of the proposal.
His tone sounded contemptuous towards junior staff.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
contemptuous of + person/thing

Expressing scorn or disrespect

This is the standard and most common pattern.

He became contemptuous of empty promises.
2
contemptuous towards + person

Describing hostile attitude toward someone

Towards focuses on directed behaviour or attitude.

The officer was contemptuous towards the protesters.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
contemptuous of
She is contemptuous of dishonesty.
feeling strong disrespect
contemptuous towards
His remarks were contemptuous towards interns.
showing contempt in behaviour toward someone
contemptuous to
Contemptuous to is not standard in modern English.
generally incorrect after the adjective
contemptuous about
Contemptuous about the issue sounds unnatural.
not an idiomatic pattern
contemptuous at
Contemptuous at the decision is uncommon and awkward.
not the normal choice

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using to after contemptuous

Use of or towards instead.

✕ She was contemptuous to the critics. ✓ She was contemptuous of the critics.

Using about for the object of contempt

About does not normally follow contemptuous.

✕ He is contemptuous about politics. ✓ He is contemptuous of politics.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. They were contemptuous ___ the new rules.
2. Her attitude was contemptuous ___ younger colleagues.
3. Which form is nonstandard in modern English?

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Frequently asked questions

Can I use toward instead of towards?

Yes. Toward is common in American English.

Is contemptuous always negative?

Yes. It expresses strong disrespect or scorn.

What noun comes from contemptuous?

The related noun is contempt.

calm, in, calm, for, calm, about "candid about" or "candid in"? capable of or in? careful about, with, of, in or on? careless about, with, in, of or on? caribbean in, for, with, to or on? "catastrophic for" or "catastrophic to"? "cautious about" or "cautious in"? celtic in, for, on, at or to? central to, in, for, at or of? "certain of" or "certain about"? "challenging for" or "challenging of"?

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