1
as in to hate
to dislike strongly
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despise
The Hero of This Book, by Elizabeth McCracken McCracken once promised never to make her deeply private mother, Natalie, a character in one of her books—especially not in a memoir, a genre the elder McCracken despised.
—
Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
That’s true, in the sense that Canadians now despise Trump and elected Carney to stand up to him.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 9 May 2025
While the masses loved him, the art world despised Kinkade.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025
Cutting these funds would harm transit riders while killing jobs across the region and the country in an industry that thrives on planning and despises risk.
—Brian Fritsch, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
Sophia Stewart, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
That’s true, in the sense that Canadians now despise Trump and elected Carney to stand up to him.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 9 May 2025
While the masses loved him, the art world despised Kinkade.
—Addie Morfoot, Variety, 25 Apr. 2025
Cutting these funds would harm transit riders while killing jobs across the region and the country in an industry that thrives on planning and despises risk.
—Brian Fritsch, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despise
Verb
-
In an Oval Office meeting with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the U.S. president likened the war in Ukraine — which Russia invaded in February 2022 — to a fight between two children who hate each other.—
Seung Min Kim,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
-
In an Oval Office meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump likened the war in Ukraine — which Russia invaded in early 2022 — to a fight between two young children who hated each other.—
Seung Min Kim,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
The Edgar County Watchdogs Inc. sued the Village of Dolton and the former mayor for failing to produce financial records after the administration allegedly disregarded Freedom of Information Act requests earlier this year.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2025
-
Advancing American Freedom, the advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, is circulating a memo telling Congress to disregard the CBO’s deficit projections.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
It’s designed to combat re-arrest and re-incarceration after imprisonment—known as recidivism, create jobs and build dignity for those the system tries to forget.—
Kizzy Cox,
Essence,
4 June 2025
-
Demings will likely never forget that night, nor the weeks and months that followed.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despise. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share