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 Mujahedeen-e-Khalq is listed as a terrorist organization by Iran and is widely despised inside the country.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Justifying Díaz-Canel’s removal, a figure long despised among Cubans on the island, might not be that difficult, given Havana’s long history in getting rid of members of the government deemed disloyal, corrupt or incompetent.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Ann Godoff, the founder of Penguin Press and the editor of Ron Chernow, Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, and Thomas Pynchon, would have despised this obituary.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for despise
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Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Justifying Díaz-Canel’s removal, a figure long despised among Cubans on the island, might not be that difficult, given Havana’s long history in getting rid of members of the government deemed disloyal, corrupt or incompetent.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Ann Godoff, the founder of Penguin Press and the editor of Ron Chernow, Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, and Thomas Pynchon, would have despised this obituary.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 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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