despise

[dih-spahyz]

See more synonyms for despise on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), de·spised, de·spis·ing.

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

Origin of despise

1250–1300; Middle English despisen < Old French despis-, stem of despire < Latin dēspicere; see despicable

Related formsde·spis·a·ble, adjectivede·spis·a·ble·ness, nounde·spis·er, nounde·spis·ing·ly, adverbun·de·spised, adjectiveun·de·spis·ing, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for despise on Thesaurus.com

contemn, detest.

Antonyms

admire.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for despise

Contemporary Examples

In their elitism and sense of entitlement, they represent much of what liberals are supposed to despise.
The Rise and Fall of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, America’s Worst Gay Power Couple
James Kirchick
December 9, 2014
I despise it with every fiber of my being, but freedom of speech is vital to our nation.
To Fight Pam Geller, Join Our Comedy Jihad at the MTA
Dean Obeidallah
September 23, 2014
Just two former bosses at CNN and NBC, the type of networks she professes to despise.
‘Lamestream Media’ Execs Are Running Palin TV
Lloyd Grove
July 28, 2014
As a hunter with many guns, I despise these bullies and their deceitful shams of wildlife protection.
American Wilderness Faces the Firing Squad
Doug Peacock
July 6, 2014
Quick images flash by: A young Cassius Clay showing off his gold medal (a man McConnell surely came to despise in the 1960s).
McConnell Campaign’s Huge Duke Whopper
Michael Tomasky
March 25, 2014

Historical Examples

How charmingly might you and I live together, and despise them all!
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)
Samuel Richardson
How will he despise what he can grasp, for the sake of the dim glory that eludes him!
Other Tales and Sketches
Nathaniel Hawthorne
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
An Explanation of Luther's Small Catechism
Joseph Stump
I have no enmity to these ladies; I only despise them, or rather, their follies and their faults.
Tales And Novels, Volume 4 (of 10)
Maria Edgeworth
Of this at least be sure—I hate you, I despise you, but I fear you not at all.
Fair Margaret
H. Rider Haggard

British Dictionary definitions for despise

despise

verb

(tr) to look down on with contempt; scornhe despises flattery

Derived Formsdespiser, noun

Word Origin

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for despise

v.

c.1300, from Old French despis-, present participle stem of despire "to despise," from Latin despicere "look down on, scorn," from de- "down" (see de-) + spicere/specere "look at" (see scope (n.1)). Related: Despised; despising.

despise

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}despise

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples from the Web for despise

Contemporary Examples

In their elitism and sense of entitlement, they represent much of what liberals are supposed to despise.

I despise it with every fiber of my being, but freedom of speech is vital to our nation.

Just two former bosses at CNN and NBC, the type of networks she professes to despise.

As a hunter with many guns, I despise these bullies and their deceitful shams of wildlife protection.

Quick images flash by: A young Cassius Clay showing off his gold medal (a man McConnell surely came to despise in the 1960s).

Historical Examples

How charmingly might you and I live together, and despise them all!

How will he despise what he can grasp, for the sake of the dim glory that eludes him!

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

I have no enmity to these ladies; I only despise them, or rather, their follies and their faults.

Of this at least be sure—I hate you, I despise you, but I fear you not at all.

despise

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for despise

v.

Origin of despise