"Be contemptuous of" means to express strong dislike or disrespect towards someone or something. There are several synonyms for this phrase, such as disdainful, scornful, derisive, disrespectful, dismissive, condescending, sneering, derisory, and insulting. These words hightlight a feeling of superiority or arrogance that the speaker or writer has towards the subject of the sentence. The tone of the language suggests that the subject of the sentence is unworthy of respect or consideration. Whether it's for personal or professional reasons, being contemptuous towards someone is never a good trait and can lead to conflicts and misunderstandings.