 Hi, I'm Dr. David Salt, and I'm a licensed psychologist specializing in couples therapy and relationships. And let's go over some signs that contempt is ruining your relationship and how to overcome it. But first, what is contempt in a relationship? Contempt in a relationship refers to a feeling of disdain or disgust for your partner as a person. It's toxic and causes a heavy emotional, psychological, and physical toll on the receiving partner. Contempt is very different from a complaint about your partner's actions, for example.