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View synonyms for despite

despite

[dih-spahyt]

preposition

  1. in spite of; notwithstanding.



noun

  1. contemptuous treatment; insult.

  2. malice, hatred, or spite.

verb (used with object)

despited, despiting 
  1. Obsolete.,  to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.

despite

/ dɪˈspaɪt /

preposition

  1. in spite of; undeterred by

“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

noun

  1. archaic,  contempt; insult

  2. rare,  (preposition) in spite of

“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

verb

  1. (tr) an archaic word for spite

“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of despite1

First recorded in 1250–1300; originally in despite of; Middle English despit, from Old French, from Latin dēspectus “view from a height, scorn,” originally past participle of dēspicere; despicable ( def. )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of despite1

C13: from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectus contempt; see despise
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding.

    He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.

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Synonym Study

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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.

But ChatGPT couldn't create the image she was asking for and despite various prompts, the results were largely the same - a woman with two arms or one with a metal device to represent a prosthetic.

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Brian added that the knowledge he would be the one left to pay for her funeral, despite having a plan, weighed on her.

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Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday the economy still appears to be in stable shape, despite the lack of updated data.

It’s important to recognize how modest this Macron reform was, despite its outsized impact and the passions it stirs.

The US has positioned its strikes on alleged drug-trafficking vessels as self-defence, despite many lawyers questioning their legality.

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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despisedespiteful