The phrase "treat with contempt" implies a dismissive and disdainful attitude towards someone or something. There are several synonyms for this phrase, including scorn, disdain, disrespect, disregard, belittle, depreciate, and insult. When we use these words, we indicate a judgment or opinion about the worth of the thing being treated with contempt. For instance, if we use the term "belittle," we suggest that we are speaking of someone or something that is of little value or importance. Similarly, "insult" suggests that the treatment is both contemptuous and verbally abusive. Ultimately, these words all convey an attitude of superiority and dismissal, and they are used when we want to express intense dissatisfaction or dislike for a person or thing.