despise

[dih-spahyz]

verb (used with object)

despised, despising 

1. to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain; scorn; loathe.

   Synonyms: detest, contemn
   Antonyms: admire

despise

/ dɪˈspaɪz /

verb

1. (tr) to look down on with contempt; scorn

   he despises flattery

Other Word Forms

• despisable adjective
• despisableness noun
• despiser noun
• despisingly adverb
• undespised adjective
• undespising adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of despise¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English despisen, from Old French despis-, stem of despire, from Latin dēspicere; despicable

Word History and Origins

Origin of despise¹

C13: from Old French despire, from Latin dēspicere to look down, from _de- + specere to look

Example Sentences

Standing up to the North American colossus and its despised leader was, of course, a massive boost for Lula’s domestic popularity and, if anything, sealed Bolsonaro’s fate.

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It’s a massive overreach for global power and influence, at a moment when he is widely despised virtually everywhere, and a complete rejection of the entire legacy of post-World War II internationalism.

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The despised Other is often the migrant or refugee, to whom many evil intentions and actions are imputed.

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His human creator programmed this into them, giving Roy and the Replicants who join him in rebellion a reason to despise mankind.

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And so is one of Deion Sanders’ sons, but not the one so many folks seem to love to despise.

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Related Words

• abhor 
• deride 
• detest 
• disdain 
• eschew 
• hate 
• loathe 
• neglect 
• reject 
• repudiate 
• revile 
• scorn 
• shun 
• snub 
• undervalue