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
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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
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
This election is a profound game-changer, not only for the people, but also the arts, liberating all those who were despised, sidelined or silenced by the corrupt regime.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Iowans despised slavery, treasured 'radical experiment' Thirteen Iowans died and 141 were wounded in the rout of the Union forces at Wilson's Creek.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq is listed as a terrorist organization by Iran and is widely despised inside the country.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Justifying Díaz-Canel’s removal, a figure long despised among Cubans on the island, might not be that difficult, given Havana’s long history in getting rid of members of the government deemed disloyal, corrupt or incompetent.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Ann Godoff, the founder of Penguin Press and the editor of Ron Chernow, Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, and Thomas Pynchon, would have despised this obituary.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 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 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
This election is a profound game-changer, not only for the people, but also the arts, liberating all those who were despised, sidelined or silenced by the corrupt regime.
—Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
Iowans despised slavery, treasured 'radical experiment' Thirteen Iowans died and 141 were wounded in the rout of the Union forces at Wilson's Creek.
—Bill Steiden, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
The Mujahedeen-e-Khalq is listed as a terrorist organization by Iran and is widely despised inside the country.
—Farah N. Jan, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
There was appreciation and gratitude for the opportunity, as well as the wisdom and words, that Holtz provided to them during their lives, but it was muddied by his support of a political figure so many passionately opposed, and/or despised.
—Mac Engel
march 5, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Mar. 2026
Justifying Díaz-Canel’s removal, a figure long despised among Cubans on the island, might not be that difficult, given Havana’s long history in getting rid of members of the government deemed disloyal, corrupt or incompetent.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
Ann Godoff, the founder of Penguin Press and the editor of Ron Chernow, Zadie Smith, Salman Rushdie, and Thomas Pynchon, would have despised this obituary.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despised
Adjective
-
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
-
The 1991 Gulf War was a stunning victory for the United States military, which has colored its assumptions about what conventional war—as opposed to counterinsurgency, a mission unwanted and disliked—should look like.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Dude on the left hated himself.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
In the fourth quarter with the game on the line, Blair called a loose-ball foul on the Cavs and Atkinson hated the call, but rather than scream or dart toward the official, Atkinson just sort of stood near his bench, staring at Blair and shaking his head.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Even the economic costs of excessive alcohol use, which top $240 billion annually — more than every American’s medical debt combined — have been disregarded.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
12 May 2026
-
In it, Hayek cautioned against the growing intellectual and political notions that disregarded liberty in favor of central planning of economic affairs.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
While some painters might feel scorned for being passed over for so long, Lovelace O’Neal said that her late-career recognition was in some ways a blessing.—
Alex Greenberger,
ARTnews.com,
13 May 2026
-
Jones also trumpeted his goal to phase out Georgia's income tax, but an ambitious cut withered after being scorned by Kemp, who is wrapping up his final term in office, and state House Republicans.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despised.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despised. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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