Synonyms

despise

American

[dih-spahyz] / dɪˈspaɪz /

verb (used with object)

despised, despising

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

Synonyms:

detest, contemn

Antonyms:

admire

despise British

/ dɪˈspaɪz /

verb

(tr) to look down on with contempt; scorn

he despises flattery

"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

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of despise

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

If the person I cared most about in the world despised my efforts, how could I hope that anyone else would like it?

From Los Angeles Times

Many fence-sitters despise the regime but want a certain chance of success before entering the fray.

From The Wall Street Journal

In this life and her first, she despised it and frankly didn’t think she was asking for all that much.

From Literature

With those words, Imai immediately became something of a folk hero to any baseball fan who despises the Dodgers—a group that currently includes just about everyone outside of L.A.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you’re a fan of any team besides the Dodgers, you might despise all the money they spend on players.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023