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
The traditional vuvuzela has been loved by some fans and despised by others.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The philosopher and theologian David Bentley Hart says that Christianity brought a moral revolution to a world that assessed a person’s value based on things such as birth, class, and power, where the weak were despised.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The Chicago fans, however, were determined to let Ruth know that on their turf he was despised.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
There was a time when famed hedonistic hostess Rebekah Harkness despised parties.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for despise
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Kenny Choi, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The philosopher and theologian David Bentley Hart says that Christianity brought a moral revolution to a world that assessed a person’s value based on things such as birth, class, and power, where the weak were despised.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The Chicago fans, however, were determined to let Ruth know that on their turf he was despised.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
There was a time when famed hedonistic hostess Rebekah Harkness despised parties.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 8 June 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 14 Jun. 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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