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
as in disdain
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
an expression of total despisement for the "unwashed masses"
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despise
Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
Williams, a 77-year-old Alaskan Athabascan Indian who has lived in East Oakland since the early 1970s, finds plenty of reasons to despise the artwork, the most visceral being its nudity.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Many people fear them, attack them, or despise them.
—Anna Tunkova, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
That’s not the case with Bertha’s son, Larry (Harry Richardson), who seems to have joined his father in absolutely despising Bertha by the end of the season.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
Verb
This absence — of God, of love, of plain community spirit — is a metaphor for the whole parish, where everyone is defined by their own lacks and deficiencies, the weaknesses that cause Wicks to despise them and vow to bring down them all.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2025
Williams, a 77-year-old Alaskan Athabascan Indian who has lived in East Oakland since the early 1970s, finds plenty of reasons to despise the artwork, the most visceral being its nudity.
—Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 6 Sep. 2025
Many people fear them, attack them, or despise them.
—Anna Tunkova, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2025
That’s not the case with Bertha’s son, Larry (Harry Richardson), who seems to have joined his father in absolutely despising Bertha by the end of the season.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despise
Verb
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There are Jews who believe that non-Jews have always hated Jews and always will.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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Lies that confuse children, encourage self-destruction, and teach Americans to hate their own country have been allowed to flourish — tearing apart the very fabric of our society.—
Carolyn McKinney,
Boston Herald,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Conversely, the categorization system behind the Cato Institute’s study disregards the complexities of some cases that have multiple motivations to consider, including an adherence to incel ideology.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Sep. 2025
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Netflix's sequel to the 1974 original disregards all other installments and was plagued by behind-the-scenes trouble, which is evident in the final product.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Posts garnered thousands of replies from people calling for her job, insulting her appearance and using her post as a reason for a general disdain of left-leaning people.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
22 Sep. 2025
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Kershaw’s competitive spirit reaches entirely new levels of intensity as his demeanor is fueled by a disdain for losing.—
Wayne G. McDonnell,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The four-pack comes with two 4-inch and two 5-inch candles, and each one requires AA batteries for a true set-it-and-forget-it setup.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Sep. 2025
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Defensive front is struggling versus the run The Dolphins lost an 18-year NFL veteran in Calais Campbell who has probably forgotten more football than his replacements (Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers) collectively know.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The general contempt with which fans are held.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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And Sunuwar, who miraculously survived, became, in the eyes of the public, another casualty of the governing élite’s contempt for ordinary Nepalis.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And hatred rather than ideology is the animating force?—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
26 Sep. 2025
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More violence, more anger, more hatred.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despise. Accessed 28 Sep. 2025.
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