DESPISE Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'despise' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of despise are contemn , disdain , and scorn . While all these words 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

Q: When can 'contemn' be used instead of 'despise'?

While in some cases nearly identical to despise , contemn implies a vehement condemnation of a person or thing as low, vile, feeble, or ignominious. // contemns the image of women promoted by advertisers

Q: When might 'disdain' be a better fit than 'despise'?

The meanings of disdain and despise largely overlap; however, disdain implies an arrogant or supercilious aversion to what is regarded as unworthy. // disdained popular music

Q: When would 'scorn' be a good substitute for 'despise'?

While the synonyms scorn and despise are close in meaning, scorn implies a ready or indignant contempt. // scorns the very thought of retirement

despise

verb

di-ˈspīz

Definition of despise

as in to hate

to dislike strongly I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to disregard

to ignore in a disrespectful manner a traitor hated and despised by the whole community

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How does the verb despise differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of despise are contemn, disdain, and scorn. While all these words 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

When can contemn be used instead of despise?

While in some cases nearly identical to despise, contemn implies a vehement condemnation of a person or thing as low, vile, feeble, or ignominious.

contemns the image of women promoted by advertisers

When might disdain be a better fit than despise?

The meanings of disdain and despise largely overlap; however, disdain implies an arrogant or supercilious aversion to what is regarded as unworthy.

disdained popular music

When would scorn be a good substitute for despise?

While the synonyms scorn and despise are close in meaning, scorn implies a ready or indignant contempt.

scorns the very thought of retirement

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 Even among people who despise Susan Collins, there can be a certain nostalgia for her brand of politics. — Emma Green, New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2026 But whereas The Holdovers’s Paul Hunham despises his lazy, pampered students, The Debut’s Jerry Blankenbuehler has a determination to summon theatrical magic out of his meager cast. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026 One of the eternally weird things about the genre is how the first-wave British legends still despise the term and refuse to be associated with it, even though it’s been decades since anyone used it as a pejorative. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026 And Hadl, who both was an assistant coach and later an administrator at KU, not to mention one of the greatest KU players of all time, also despised the Tigers. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for despise

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despise

Verb

The workshop model—love it or hate it—puts a writer and their work in front of the audience of their peers; if those peers are both generous and honest in their reading and commentary, the writer might benefit from their insights.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026
The suspect hated Indians, but his hate did not discriminate.

— Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of hate

Verb

But in a new essay in Foreign Affairs, McRaven focuses not on the potential of military force but on its limits—limits that American policymakers frequently disregard, at immense cost.

— William H. McRaven, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026
Their attorneys argued that commissioners disregarded professional review and relied instead on generalized neighborhood opposition.

— Sarah Kinbar, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of disregard

Verb

Would Azriel, the third and final bad-boy faerie of the Night Court’s royal family, end up with Elain, the unhappy and often forgotten youngest sister of the Night Court’s High Lady, Feyre?

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
Don’t forget that many of the prewar family-size apartments all over the Upper West Side were chopped up into multiple units during the Great Depression, too.

— Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of forget

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despicably

despise

despised

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“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despise. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of despise

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