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
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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
-
Injuries to others notwithstanding, some might have questioned the inclusion of Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins in the starting line-up given Aston Villa’s poor start to the season.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
My life has been pretty much pain-free thankfully (existential crises notwithstanding).—
Ronnie Koenig,
SELF,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
My relationship with my disease began as one of mutual contempt.—
David Soren,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Delightfully pugnacious contempt for plot and human interest.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These materials can help Ellis prove that Alvarado acted with actual malice.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
In addition to stealing students’ data, the worm had also altered some records, perhaps for no better reason than simple malice.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Part of the new legislative package is also an effort to combat home appraisal discrimination, which has often put non-white households at a disadvantage.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The first strategy has the disadvantage that some tumor cells develop resistance and thus do not respond to the medication.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Trump, at least initially, was treated with disdain.—
Andy Kroll,
ProPublica,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Lamb doubled down on his disdain for Kirk in his response to Fox News Digital.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The return of Beyond Meat could be the latest signal of a frothy market, one that is relentlessly climbing higher in spite of concerns around elevated valuations and a possible artificial intelligence bubble.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 Oct. 2025
-
These deployments are nothing more than partisan spite from an increasingly unhinged aspiring dictator, and the Supreme Court must halt them.—
Newsweek Contributors,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This includes reasonable expenses, such as meals, toiletries and lodging for trips delayed more than six hours or requiring an overnight stay.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Payments to that company accounted for nearly two-thirds of the party’s expenses during the period.—
Lawrence Mower,
Miami Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The former screen siren was fined nearly $25,000 in 2008 after being convicted of provoking discrimination and racial hatred for writing that Muslims are destroying her country.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Looking at me with pure hatred.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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