# contempt vs contest

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### contempt
*noun · IPA /kənˈtɛmpt/ · frequency rank #10,520*
The state or act of contemning; the feeling or attitude of regarding someone or something as inferior, base, or worthless; scorn, disdain.

### contest
*noun · IPA /ˈkɒn.tɛst/ · frequency rank #2,826*
Controversy; debate.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-09-03.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/contempt-vs-contest