despised; despising
1
: to strongly dislike or hate : to look down on with disrespect or aversion
despised the cruel
Although despised by critics, the movie attracted a wide audience.
Most Americans despise turning their clocks an hour forward in the spring and an hour back in the fall, polls show.—
Dave Goldiner
Dave GoldinerHer [Deirdre Bair's] new book describes the animosity between Beckett and de Beauvoir, who were neighbors but despised each other.—Carole Goldberg
Carole Goldberg2
: to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful
despises rampant consumerism
Examples of despise in a Sentence
He and Julie grooved to Cuban son and jazz on NPR and loved arty films, for instance; and they distrusted big business and despised tract houses, malls, and other aesthetically unpleasing byproducts of a consumer society.
—Brian C. Anderson, National Review, 13 Mar. 2006
She was despised as a hypocrite.
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Brian C. Anderson, National Review, 13 Mar. 2006
She was despised as a hypocrite.
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet Americans despise this economy.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The aide, Colonel Dave Butler, a former infantry officer, is a longtime leader in Army public affairs (not a specialty Hegseth embraces) who worked closely with the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (whom Hegseth despises).
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Liberal Democrats who despised Daley as a corrupt big-city boss hailed Jackson as a hero.
—Johanna Neuman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
According to the lawyers, Ballard set up a meeting between Gorrin and then-Vice President Mike Pence in 2017 at a political event in Doral with members of the Venezuelan diaspora, who despised Maduro.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despise
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David Goldman, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
The aide, Colonel Dave Butler, a former infantry officer, is a longtime leader in Army public affairs (not a specialty Hegseth embraces) who worked closely with the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (whom Hegseth despises).
—Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Liberal Democrats who despised Daley as a corrupt big-city boss hailed Jackson as a hero.
—Johanna Neuman, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
According to the lawyers, Ballard set up a meeting between Gorrin and then-Vice President Mike Pence in 2017 at a political event in Doral with members of the Venezuelan diaspora, who despised Maduro.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despise
Cite this Entry
“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despise. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
despise
verb
de·spise
di-ˈspīz 
despised; despising
: to consider as beneath one's notice or respect : feel scorn and dislike for
despiser
noun
despisingly
adverb
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