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
Trump supporters despised him, while some Democrats embraced him — if reluctantly — and still many others would always condemn him as a war criminal for his role in Iraq.
—Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Both brothers despise their father, for good reason.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The fact that the film is named after its subject’s most beloved — and most despised by Hart himself — hit tells you everything.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Really loved, obsessively loved and despised by every critic.
—Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
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Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
Both brothers despise their father, for good reason.
—Karl Ove Knausgaard, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2025
The fact that the film is named after its subject’s most beloved — and most despised by Hart himself — hit tells you everything.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Really loved, obsessively loved and despised by every critic.
—Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
Cite this Entry
“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despise. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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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