Contempt
Etymology
From Latin "contemptus," from "contemnere" — “to scorn, despise,” from "con-" (intensive) + "temnere" (to slight, look down on). The posture is built into the word: contempt is the act of holding someone as low, of counting them as nothing.
noun · /kun-TEMPT/
The feeling that someone or something is beneath you — worthless and deserving of scorn.
What it names
Reach for it to name cold looking-down, the emotion that ranks another person as inferior rather than merely disliking them.
Example
She couldn’t hide the contempt in her voice when he claimed he’d “basically read” the book.
Related idea
Against disgust: disgust is a visceral recoil (rot, filth, spoiled food) later extended to morals; contempt is a cold social ranking — it places a person below you. Relationship researcher John Gottman found contempt, more than anger, is the single strongest predictor of divorce.