as in disliked
Related Words
Relevance
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
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 despised
Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2025
Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
While sweet gum is known and appreciated for its lovely fall color, it is also despised for its seeds.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
The Taiwanese for three consecutive elections have selected the presidential candidate most despised by the CCP.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
My father would have despised that.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
His 1983 version of Breathless, by the way, much despised by critics at the time but now prized by a growing cult of admirers, is a wonderful and deranged work, slick and sensationalistic in all the ways that Godard’s isn’t.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
She is largely despised by people who work in the West Wing, aside from the President.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Trump supporters despised him, while some Democrats embraced him — if reluctantly — and still many others would always condemn him as a war criminal for his role in Iraq.
—Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
The fact that the film is named after its subject’s most beloved — and most despised by Hart himself — hit tells you everything.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
Trump took decisive action Saturday in launching precision military strikes in Venezuela that enabled special forces to seize and detain Maduro, an illegitimate leader despised by his own people.
—Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 5 Jan. 2026
While sweet gum is known and appreciated for its lovely fall color, it is also despised for its seeds.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025
The Taiwanese for three consecutive elections have selected the presidential candidate most despised by the CCP.
—Stephen Kotkin, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
My father would have despised that.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 5 Dec. 2025
His 1983 version of Breathless, by the way, much despised by critics at the time but now prized by a growing cult of admirers, is a wonderful and deranged work, slick and sensationalistic in all the ways that Godard’s isn’t.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Dec. 2025
She is largely despised by people who work in the West Wing, aside from the President.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Trump supporters despised him, while some Democrats embraced him — if reluctantly — and still many others would always condemn him as a war criminal for his role in Iraq.
—Don Gonyea, NPR, 4 Nov. 2025
The fact that the film is named after its subject’s most beloved — and most despised by Hart himself — hit tells you everything.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despised
Adjective
-
However, leaving for a rival as disliked as the Mets would undoubtedly leave a stain on his time with the Phillies.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Nov. 2025
-
The Rats are some of the most widely disliked characters in Andrzej Sapkowski’s original novels.—
Scott Meslow,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Graham hated feeling out of breath; her life demanded all her energy.—
Lizzie Presser,
ProPublica,
14 Jan. 2026
-
After graduating from high school in 2001, David went to Pepperdine University as a prospective business major, hated it, and transferred to film school at USC.—
Reeves Wiedeman,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This time, the group contended that San Diego’s supplemental analysis of the visual and neighborhood character impacts of taller buildings, prepared in advance of the 2022 ballot measure, disregarded other consequential environmental factors.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Young’s warnings were eventually disregarded, with Mara, the younger brother of team president and CEO John Mara, returning to the organization as vice president of player evaluation in 2003 after a decade-long sabbatical.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Watch this episode for Edie Falco's fiery, Emmy-winning performance as a woman both exhausted and scorned.—
Dan Snierson,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Dec. 2025
-
However, Eleanor is not a woman to be scorned.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despised. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
