蔑視|べっしbesshi[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbcontempt; derision; slight; disdain

• Synonym軽蔑けいべつNeutralThe everyday word for contempt, common in speech and writing and leaning toward personal feeling; 「蔑視」 is more written and often implies discrimination.
• Synonym侮蔑ぶべつWrittenWritten word combining insult and contempt, with a heavy tone, as in 「侮蔑的な態度」; it leans toward offensive words and behaviour.
• Synonym軽視けいしNeutralMaking light of something, as in 「安全を軽視する」; it is an attitude of not taking things seriously and does not necessarily discriminate against people.
• Synonym見下すみくだすNeutralLooking down on someone from a position of superiority; it works for individuals or groups, as in 「女性を見下す」.
• Synonym侮るあなどるNeutralTo underrate someone's ability, as in 「相手を侮るな」; it is about underestimating strength and does not necessarily carry discrimination.
• Synonym蔑むさげすむNeutralThe verb form, sharing the same root as 「蔑視」; it leans toward personal feeling, as in 「人を蔑む目」.
• Synonym蔑みさげすみWrittenWritten word for a scornful attitude, as in 「蔑みの目」; it leans toward personal gazes and expressions.
• Synonym軽侮けいぶWrittenWritten and rare, meaning scornful disrespect; close to 「侮蔑」 and rather old-fashioned — in everyday speech say 「軽蔑」.
• Synonym侮りあなどりWrittenWritten noun for slighting or underrating someone, as in 「侮りを受ける」; the verb 「侮る」 is the more common form.
• Synonym卑しむいやしむWrittenWritten and rare, to despise someone; it leans toward status and character, and in daily speech 「見下す」 is the usual choice.
• Synonym卑しめるいやしめるWrittenTo demean someone and make them feel low; it leans toward the act and can also cover status-based discrimination. Rare — daily speech prefers 「見下す」.
• Related侮辱ぶじょくNeutralAn insult — words or deeds that damage someone's honour; used in both daily life and law, as in 「侮辱を受ける」 and 「侮辱罪」.
• Related見くびるみくびるNeutralTo underestimate someone's ability, as in 「子供と見くびる」; it suggests a misjudgement and does not necessarily involve discrimination.
• RelatedないがしろWrittenWritten word for treating something as nothing, as in 「規則を蔑ろにする」; it applies to people, opinions, rights and rules, and leans toward disregard rather than contempt.
• Related蔑するなみするWrittenWritten and very rare, to disregard or treat as of no account; a classical usage that stresses ignoring rather than despising.
• Related侮慢ぶまんWrittenWritten and rare, arrogant disrespect; it leans toward an offensive attitude, and in daily speech say 「侮辱」 or 「失礼」.
• Related嘲弄ちょうろうWrittenWritten word for mockery and ridicule; it is about making fun of someone verbally and does not imply discrimination.
• Antonym尊重そんちょうNeutralAntonym: to respect and treat as important, as in 「人権尊重」; it stands opposite to 「蔑視」 and applies to people and opinions alike.
• Antonym尊敬そんけいNeutralAntonym: to esteem someone's character or ability; it opposes the despising side of 「蔑視」 and is mostly felt toward individuals.
• Antonym重視じゅうしNeutralAntonym: to regard something as important; it opposes the making-light-of side of 「蔑視」, and its object is usually a thing rather than a person.

For contempt in general, 「軽蔑」 is the everyday choice in both speech and writing. Use 「蔑視」 for written, discrimination-flavoured contempt toward groups or individuals, as in 「女性蔑視」. For not taking something seriously, say 「蔑ろにする」; for looking down on someone, 「見下す」; for underrating ability, 「侮る」 or 「見くびる」; for insults, 「侮辱」. The written terms 「侮蔑」「軽侮」「侮慢」「嘲弄」 and the rare 「卑しむ」「卑しめる」「蔑する」 are best avoided in daily speech. The antonyms are 「尊重」, 「尊敬」 and 「重視」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 蔑さげすんで視みること。あなどること。