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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
-
This is not, Vance’s studied ignorance notwithstanding, a normal way of doing business.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
-
And no — because strictly speaking there is no Electric Nebraska per se, notwithstanding Springsteen’s equivocations on the point (as reported in this magazine) and the fact that one disc in this five-disc set is titled Electric Nebraska.—
Will Hermes,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While support for the president and contempt for the left has united conservative media for years, Gaza has been driving a wedge between two of the right’s biggest names.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The group pledged support for the creatives known as the Hollywood Ten, who were cited for contempt of Congress after refusing to address the House Un-American Activities Committee about supposed communist affiliations.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
They’re built not to resist developers but, as their name suggests, they’re intentionally designed, with a degree of malice, to annoy someone specific.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Emerson's defense team argued that the case was more about mental health than malice.—
Maddie Garfinkle,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But detailed negotiations have dragged out, leaving the country’s key auto making industry at a disadvantage – subject to 25% US tariffs while its rivals in Japan and Europe have already secured much lower rates.—
Will Ripley,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
-
The Republican Party may be at a disadvantage in next year's midterm elections, according to new polling.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Their remaining team-mates applauded the away enclosure, but many in that section were gesticulating their disdain.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Whores in the Attic gives us Gordon peeping up at three towering Asian succubi who regard her with disdain.—
Jerry Saltz,
Vulture,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But in spite of Barkley's monster performance and the Eagles avenging their previous Week 6 loss to the Giants, Barkley offered up a rather intriguing quote while being interviewed by Fox Sports reporter Erin Andrews after the game.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The information was given to sports bettors, one of whom placed a $100,000 bet against the Lakers, who ended up winning the game in spite of Davis' injuries.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Mark Blinch / Getty Images In the ninth inning of a Game 1 romp, fans at Rogers Centre had some fun at Shohei Ohtani’s expense.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Donations will go toward assisting the Sullivan family with funeral expenses and the recovery process.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The endorsement comes as Cuomo has lobbed increasingly caustic attacks on Mamdani, equating his criticism of Israel with antisemitism and warning of a city beset by crime, hatred and disorder if his opponent wins.—
Anthony Izaguirre,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield hasn't been shy about his hatred of the rival NFL franchise.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
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