different between contemptible vs ratfink

English

Alternative forms

• contemptable (archaic, nonstandard)

Etymology

Ultimately from Latin contemptibilis.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /k?n?t?mpt?b?l/

Adjective

contemptible (comparative more contemptible, superlative most contemptible)

1. deserving contempt

Synonyms

• despicable
• disdainable
• hateworthy
• See also Thesaurus:despicable

Antonyms

• respectable
• venerable

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• rat fink
• rat-fink

Etymology

rat +? fink

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation, General American) IPA^(key): /??ætf??k/
• Hyphenation: rat?fink

Noun

ratfink (plural ratfinks) (Canada, US)

1. An informer or spy; a traitor. [from 1960s]
2. (also attributive) A dislikable or contemptible person. [from 1960s]

Synonyms

• fink

Translations

Verb

ratfink (third-person singular simple present ratfinks, present participle ratfinking, simple past and past participle ratfinked)

1. (transitive) To inform on; to betray. [from 1970s]

References

• John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors (1989) , “ratfink”, in The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, ?ISBN
• “rat fink”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present; “rat-fink”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.