Dictionary.com

despite

[ dih-spahyt ]
/ dɪˈspaɪt /
See synonyms for: despite / despites on Thesaurus.com

preposition

in spite of; notwithstanding.

noun

contemptuous treatment; insult.
malice, hatred, or spite.

verb (used with object), de·spit·ed, de·spit·ing.

Obsolete. to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.

QUIZZES

THIS PSAT VOCABULARY QUIZ IS PERFECT PRACTICE FOR THE REAL TEST

In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for despite

    in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding: He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.

Origin of despite

1250–1300; originally in despite of;Middle English despit from Old French from Latin dēspectus “view from a height, scorn,” equivalent to dēspec-, variant stem of dēspicere (see despicable) + -tus suffix of verbal action

synonym study for despite

1. See notwithstanding.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Words related to despite

against, although, notwithstanding, even though, in defiance of, in the face of

British Dictionary definitions for despite

despite
/ (dɪˈspaɪt) /

preposition

in spite of; undeterred by

noun

archaic contempt; insult
in despite of (preposition) rare in spite of

verb

(tr) an archaic word for spite

Word Origin for despite

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