The antonyms for the expression "treating with contempt" can be showing respect, admiration, appreciation, consideration, and kindness. When one treats someone with respect, they show them that they value their worth as an individual. Admiration is to feel positive admiration or esteem towards someone, which is the opposite of treating them with contempt. Appreciation is the act of expressing gratitude, which is an emotion opposite to contempt. Consideration is to think carefully and respectfully about someone, which is not contemptuous. Lastly, kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate, which contrasts Treating with contempt.