as in disliked
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in hated
to dislike strongly
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregarded
to ignore in a disrespectful manner
a traitor hated and despised by the whole community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despised
Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
This is a despised company right now.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
For most households, cleaning the oven is a despised chore.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Before public opinion turned against the war, Ali was likely the most despised man in America.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Kenny Choi, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The philosopher and theologian David Bentley Hart says that Christianity brought a moral revolution to a world that assessed a person’s value based on things such as birth, class, and power, where the weak were despised.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The Chicago fans, however, were determined to let Ruth know that on their turf he was despised.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
There was a time when famed hedonistic hostess Rebekah Harkness despised parties.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026
Though often despised, carp are exceedingly shy and difficult, and great fighters.
—Byron W. Dalrymple, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Corporate bosses and some regulators have long despised the practice of rooting for share prices to fall, but defenders say short selling creates an incentive to expose wrongdoing and acts as a check on increasingly passive stock markets.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
The goddess Hera — who despised Heracles — later set the crab in the heavens in the form of the constellation Cancer as a reward for its bravery.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Smith had slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Academy Awards, and was suddenly one of the most despised actors in America.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
This is a despised company right now.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
For most households, cleaning the oven is a despised chore.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 4 Feb. 2026
Before public opinion turned against the war, Ali was likely the most despised man in America.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
The traditional vuvuzela has been loved by some fans and despised by others.
—Kenny Choi, CBS News, 12 June 2026
The philosopher and theologian David Bentley Hart says that Christianity brought a moral revolution to a world that assessed a person’s value based on things such as birth, class, and power, where the weak were despised.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026
The Chicago fans, however, were determined to let Ruth know that on their turf he was despised.
—Literary Hub, 8 June 2026
There was a time when famed hedonistic hostess Rebekah Harkness despised parties.
—Rosemary Counter, Vanity Fair, 8 June 2026
Though often despised, carp are exceedingly shy and difficult, and great fighters.
—Byron W. Dalrymple, Outdoor Life, 4 June 2026
Corporate bosses and some regulators have long despised the practice of rooting for share prices to fall, but defenders say short selling creates an incentive to expose wrongdoing and acts as a check on increasingly passive stock markets.
—Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 2 June 2026
The goddess Hera — who despised Heracles — later set the crab in the heavens in the form of the constellation Cancer as a reward for its bravery.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.
—Lizzie Johnson, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despised
Adjective
-
Walmart, the second-cheapest option, was among the most disliked.—
Eva Flowe
May 29,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
The British prime minister is only marginally less disliked by Britons, with his net favorability of minus 48 one of the worst since YouGov started tracking this metric in the 1970s.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Most bands in the ’80s hated each other.—
Lily Moayeri,
SPIN,
17 June 2026
-
His administration had split into several factions, all of which had different interests, and all of which hated each other.—
Tina Nguyen,
The Verge,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
So, many governments and corporations have interpreted the principle loosely, or even disregarded it entirely.—
Buket Altınçelep,
The Conversation,
12 June 2026
-
Fines could be issued to both organizations and members of the public who disregarded the measures, though the rollout was designed to be gradual to allow time for adjustment.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
For years, Knicks owner James Dolan has been scorned by fans.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
-
Those who believed in finvenkismo scorned Raŭmismo.—
Katie Thornton,
Harpers Magazine,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despised. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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