Content vs. Contempt — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 27, 2023
Content refers to the substance or material within something or satisfaction felt by someone, while Contempt means disdain or a lack of respect for someone or something.
Difference Between Content and Contempt
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Content can refer to the substance, material, or information enclosed within something, like the content of a book or a box. In another context, content can also mean a state of peaceful satisfaction or happiness. It describes a feeling of fulfillment or acceptance. Contempt, on the other hand, is a strong feeling of disdain or lack of respect for someone or something. It implies a sense of superiority and often includes a disregard for what is deemed as beneath consideration.
Content, as it relates to material or information, is often used in contexts like media, education, and digital platforms. For instance, websites have content that includes text, images, and videos. Contempt, conversely, is deeply rooted in personal feelings and can manifest in both legal and interpersonal realms. For instance, someone might show contempt in court, resulting in legal penalties.
When someone says they are content, they are expressing satisfaction, peace, and happiness with their current state or circumstances. It’s a positive emotion. Contempt is a negative emotion, signifying strong disapproval and a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect or consideration.
Content and contempt, while sounding similar, stand in stark contrast in terms of their meanings and applications. One often indicates fulfillment or material, and the other denotes strong disapproval and disrespect.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Substance/material within or satisfaction.
Disdain or lack of respect.
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Nature
Can be neutral or positive.
Negative.
Context
Media, digital platforms, personal feelings.
Legal, interpersonal relations.
Emotional Tone
Indicates satisfaction or information.
Indicates strong disapproval.
Related Terms
Contentment (feeling satisfied).
Contemptuous (showing contempt).
Compare with Definitions
Content
Often contents Something contained, as in a receptacle
The contents of my desk drawer.
The contents of an aerosol can.
Contempt
A legal offense of disrespect to a court or legislative body.
He was charged with contempt of court.
Content
The subject or topics addressed.
The seminar's content was about mental health.
Contempt
The act of despising or devaluing something.
The artist's work was held in contempt by critics.
Content
The proportion of a component in a mixture.
The oxygen content in the air is vital.
Contempt
Strong disapproval or hatred.
The community held the company in contempt for its actions.
Content
A state of peaceful satisfaction.
She felt content with her life choices.
Contempt
A feeling of disdain or lack of respect.
He looked at the thief with contempt.
Content
The individual items or topics that are dealt with in a publication or document
A table of contents.
Contempt
Contempt is a pattern of attitudes and behaviour, often towards an individual or group, but sometimes towards an ideology, which has the characteristics of disgust and anger.The word originated in 1393 in Old French contempt, contemps, from the Latin word contemptus meaning "scorn". It is the past participle of contemnere and from con- intensive prefix + temnere "to slight, scorn".
Content
The material, including text and images, that constitutes a publication or document.
Contempt
The feeling that a person or a thing is worthless or beneath consideration
Pam stared at the girl with total contempt
It is no wonder journalists are held in such contempt
Content
The substance or significance of a written work, especially as contrasted with its form.
Contempt
The feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn.
Content
Information, such as text, video, and sound, usually as contrasted with its format of presentation
A television producer looking for content that was more entertaining.
Contempt
The state of being despised or dishonored
Was held in contempt by his former friends.
Content
The proportion of a specified substance
Eggs have a high protein content.
Contempt
Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
Content
Contentment; satisfaction.
Contempt
(uncountable) The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.
Content
Desiring no more than what one has; satisfied.
Contempt
The state of being despised or dishonored; disgrace.
Content
Ready to accept or acquiesce; willing
She was content to step down after four years as chief executive.
Contempt
(legal) Open disrespect or willful disobedience of the authority of a court of law or legislative body.
Content
To make content or satisfied
Contented himself with one piece of cake.
Contempt
The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteemed mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn.
Criminal contempt of public feeling.
Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great.
Content
Satisfied, pleased, contented.
Contempt
The state of being despised; disgrace; shame.
Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back.
Content
(obsolete) Contained.
Contempt
An act or expression denoting contempt.
Little insults and contempts.
The contempt and anger of his lip.
Content
Satisfaction, contentment; pleasure.
They were in a state of sleepy content after supper.
Contempt
Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority.
Content
(obsolete) Acquiescence without examination.
Contempt
Lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike;
He was held in contempt
The despite in which outsiders were held is legendary
Content
That which contents or satisfies; that which if attained would make one happy.
Contempt
A manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous
Content
An expression of assent to a bill or motion; an affirmative vote.
Contempt
Open disrespect for a person or thing
Content
A member who votes in assent.
Contempt
A willful disobedience to or disrespect for the authority of a court or legislative body
Content
(uncountable) That which is contained.
Contempt
An attitude of superiority.
Her contempt for the less fortunate was evident.
Content
Subject matter; semantic information (or a portion or body thereof); that which is contained in writing, speech, video, etc.
Although eloquently delivered, the content of the speech was objectionable.
Some online video creators upload new content every day.
Prolific creators manage their voluminous content with any of various content management systems.
Content
The amount of material contained; contents.
Light beer has a lower alcohol content than regular beer.
Content
(obsolete) Capacity for containing.
Content
(mathematics) The n-dimensional space contained by an n-dimensional polytope (called volume in the case of a polyhedron and area in the case of a polygon); length, area or volume, generalized to an arbitrary number of dimensions. Category:en:Higher-dimensional geometry
Content
The greatest common divisor of the coefficients; (of a polynomial with coefficients in an integral domain) the common factor of the coefficients which, when removed, leaves the adjusted coefficients with no common factor that is noninvertible.
Content
(archaic) Alright, agreed.
Content
(transitive) To give contentment or satisfaction; to satisfy; to make happy.
You can't have any more - you'll have to content yourself with what you already have.
Content
To satisfy the expectations of; to pay; to requite.
Content
Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by that which one has; not disposed to repine or grumble; satisfied; contented; at rest.
Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.
Content
That which is contained; the thing or things held by a receptacle or included within specified limits; as, the contents of a cask or bale or of a room; the contents of a book.
I shall prove these writings . . . authentic, and the contents true, and worthy of a divine original.
Content
Power of containing; capacity; extent; size.
Strong ship's, of great content.
Content
Area or quantity of space or matter contained within certain limits; as, solid contents; superficial contents.
The geometrical content, figure, and situation of all the lands of a kingdom.
Content
Rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; freedom from discontent; satisfaction; contentment; moderate happiness.
Such is the fullness of my heart's content.
Content
Acquiescence without examination.
The sense they humbly take upon content.
Content
That which contents or satisfies; that which if attained would make one happy.
So will I in England work your grace's full content.
Content
An expression of assent to a bill or motion; an affirmative vote; also, a member who votes "Content.".
Supposing the number of "Contents" and "Not contents" strictly equal in number and consequence.
Content
To satisfy the desires of; to make easy in any situation; to appease or quiet; to gratify; to please.
Do not content yourselves with obscure and confused ideas, where clearer are to be attained.
Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them.
Content
To satisfy the expectations of; to pay; to requite.
Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.
Content
Everything that is included in a collection;
He emptied the contents of his pockets
The two groups were similar in content
Content
What a communication that is about something is about
Content
The proportion of a substance that is contained in a mixture or alloy etc.
Content
The amount that can be contained;
The gas tank has a capacity of 12 gallons
Content
The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned
Content
The state of being contented with your situation in life;
He relaxed in sleepy contentedness
They could read to their heart's content
Content
Something (a person or object or scene) selected by an artist or photographer for graphic representation;
A moving picture of a train is more dramatic than a still picture of the same subject
Content
Satisfy in a limited way;
He contented himself with one glass of beer per day
Content
Make content;
I am contented
Content
Satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are;
A contented smile
Content
The information or material in a medium.
The content of the magazine is informative.
Content
Substance or components within something.
The content of the box was unknown.
Common Curiosities
Are Content and Contempt synonyms?
No, they have distinctly different meanings and usages.
Can Content refer to feelings?
Yes, it can refer to a state of peaceful satisfaction or happiness.
Can someone be content with contempt?
It's possible for someone to feel satisfied (content) with their disdainful view (contempt), though they are different emotions.
Which word is more related to emotions?
Both can be, but Content is more about satisfaction, while Contempt is about disdain.
How can Contempt affect relationships?
Contempt can damage relationships as it indicates a lack of respect or value.
Is Contempt always a negative term?
Yes, it denotes disdain or a lack of respect.
Is Contempt of court about emotions?
It refers to a legal offense of showing disrespect to a court, not just an emotion.
Can Content refer to digital material?
Yes, such as the content on a website or in a digital document.
Is all website information considered Content?
Yes, all the material, including text, images, and videos, is considered content.
Is being content the same as settling?
Not necessarily. Being content means being satisfied, whereas settling can imply accepting less than one desires.
What's the opposite of feeling Content?
Feeling discontent or restless.
How can one achieve a state of contentment?
Through acceptance, gratitude, and finding purpose, among other personal journeys.
What are signs of Contempt in communication?
Eye-rolling, sarcastic comments, and sneering can be signs.
Is Contempt a strong emotion?
Yes, it signifies strong disapproval or disdain.
Can Contempt be silent?
Yes, it can be subtly shown through actions, non-verbal cues, or avoided communication.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
