Disrespect

noun, verb

noun, verb ·3 syllables ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A lack of respect, esteem or courteous behaviour. uncountable, usually

    "[S]he uſed many arguments both to excuſe her ſelf and divert their intentions, yet adding ſtill more fierceneſs to their former behaviour, as they would not ſeem at all to be ſatisfied either with her language or her tears (notwithſtanding they proceeded more from her apprehenſion of their diſreſpects to her perſon, than out of any ſenſe ſhe had of her own preſent danger) […]"

  2. 2
    a manner that is generally disrespectful and contemptuous wordnet
  3. 3
    a disrespectful mental attitude wordnet
  4. 4
    an expression of lack of respect wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To show a lack of respect to someone or something. transitive
  2. 2
    have little or no respect for; hold in contempt wordnet
  3. 3
    show a lack of respect for wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
misrespectabusebanbe disrespectfulbe overfamiliar withblackball

Example

More examples

"If throughout your life you abstain from murder, theft, fornication, perjury, blasphemy, and disrespect toward your parents, your church, and your king, you are conventionally held to deserve moral admiration even if you have never done a single kind or generous or useful action."

Etymology

From dis- + respect.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.