Contempt, in slang

SHADE

Think of a sassy remark or subtle insult often thrown in pop culture, especially when someone’s being dismissive without saying much.

"Contempt, in slang" points to "SHADE" because in modern informal language, "throwing shade" means subtly insulting or showing disrespect toward someone. The word originated in Black and LGBTQ+ communities, especially in ballroom culture, where it described a sly or indirect way of expressing contempt. It’s a common crossword answer for clues about disdain or snarky behavior.