as in notwithstanding
without being prevented by
we went to the party despite the bad weather outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
pointedly ignored his false friend out of despite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
sheer despite was the sole reason for her hurtful comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
baffled as to why working-class voters would vote in despite of their own economic interests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despite
al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2023
Westbrook recently scored a triple-double despite shooting 7-for-27 from the floor.
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 7 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Preposition
Through the family’s ups and downs, Copeland was a steadying presence, despite his disability.
—al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Noun
Despite the fact that the age of female winners has been steadily increasing in the last despite, the average female Oscar winner is 39 years old, according to a Sky News 2023 report—almost a decade younger than the average male winner at 47.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2023
Westbrook recently scored a triple-double despite shooting 7-for-27 from the floor.
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 7 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despite
Preposition
-
But previous presidents have resisted the temptation to exploit them, and the law has served as a powerful norm notwithstanding its weaknesses.—
Elizabeth Goitein,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
-
For decades now, the Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise has been associated with Microsoft's own DOS/Windows operating systems and, more recently, Xbox consoles (weird exceptions like this 1986 Macintosh port notwithstanding).—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The arrest comes days after a federal judge in Utah issued a warrant ordering authorities to arrest Sparks for contempt of court in connection with a Clean Air Act lawsuit filed by Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment in 2017.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The upshot of this contempt is a season that layers hypocrisy as well as sanctimony over the grubby, tedious nihilism that made Dahmer so miserable to watch.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
More than avoiding malice, we are called to take responsibility for the impact of our words.—
Andrew Weinstein,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Understand that controlling behaviors may stem from fear and insecurity rather than malice.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Without proximity to these prestigious networks, they’re left to compete at a distinct disadvantage.—
Sarah Maokosy,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The bullpen goes to the Phillies, but the Dodgers will try to mitigate that disadvantage with some of their extra starters.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Some earlier African intellectuals looked at Black America with pity, even disdain.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Monster doesn’t have answers for these questions, just a general disdain for Americans and broad observations about our own cowardice.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Giants didn’t finish with an 81-81 record because of Melvin or in spite of him.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
The housing authority's board later renominated Lowe in spite of the earlier denial, a move that put the decision on a successor in the hands of the Board of Directors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
All the horses' feed is paid for by Metro Nashville and the handler is given a $2,500 annual stipend for medical expenses.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
In addition to the great expense, many of the shows revolved around songs from old movies and movie musicals.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Raised under Augusta’s religious terror and hatred for women, Ed tries to hide his penchant for ladies’ underwear and masturbation to no avail.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Not as a land of fear, not as a divisiveness, not of government censorship, not of hatred.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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