The correct answer is: deserving to be despised.
Indeed, the adjective contemptible is a derivative of the noun contempt, which means the perception of a person on anything deemed vile, disrespectful, uncouth, evil.
The root word contempt comes from the Latin word contemptus, which is a manifestation of slight before a despicable action or person. The suffix ible is another form of the suffix able, which means "capable of". Therefore, the adjective contemptible literally means “that which is capable of inspiring scorn", or if you prefer, contempt.
