despise

verb

de·​spise di-ˈspīz 

despised; despising

transitive verb

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

Her [Deirdre Bair's] new book describes the animosity between Beckett and de Beauvoir, who were neighbors but despised each other.

—Carole Goldberg

2

: to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful

despises rampant consumerism

despisement

di-ˈspīz-mənt 

noun

despiser

di-ˈspī-zər 

noun

Synonyms of despise

• hate

Choose the Right Synonym for despise

despise, contemn, scorn, disdain mean to regard as unworthy of one's notice or consideration.

despise may suggest an emotional response ranging from strong dislike to loathing.

despises cowards

contemn implies a vehement condemnation of a person or thing as low, vile, feeble, or ignominious.

contemns the image of women promoted by advertisers

scorn implies a ready or indignant contempt.

scorns the very thought of retirement

disdain implies an arrogant or supercilious aversion to what is regarded as unworthy.

disdained popular music

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!

Recent Examples on the Web

Those of us who despise Trumpism too rarely asked ourselves whether Trump’s efforts to conceal an apparently consensual relationship with Stormy Daniels were the proper grounds for prosecution. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Overnight, this 54-year-old Southern Californian began dealing with acid reflux, random bloating, constipation, and a rebelling digestive system that suddenly despised her favorite foods. — Cheryl Fenton, Flow Space, 17 Aug. 2026

Disliked, even hated, by millions of his countrymen, and despised by possibly billions abroad, Trump has a target on his back. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 15 Aug. 2026

Naturally, this puts him at odds with the Green Lantern Corps – but Sinestro really really despises the Guardians of the Universe the most here. — Sergio Pereira, Space.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French despis-, stem of despire, from Latin despicere, from de- + specere to look — more at spy

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for despise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids 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