despises

verb

present tense third-person singular of despise
1
as in hates
to dislike strongly I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregards
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 despises But Kennedy despises the technology and has spread significant misinformation about mRNA technology. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 16 July 2026 Though Brigitta despises him, Maria shelters him. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026 This brief funk is broken when Clay comes home to find his mother — who, like everyone else in their backwoods local area, despises their stunts — watching an old movie on TV. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 18 Mar. 2026 The aide, Colonel Dave Butler, a former infantry officer, is a longtime leader in Army public affairs (not a specialty Hegseth embraces) who worked closely with the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (whom Hegseth despises). — Missy Ryan, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026 The production reimagines the titular character as Alice, a novelist who despises hollow contemporary mantras and faces backlash for speaking her mind. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 26 Jan. 2026 Policing women is a byproduct of patriarchy, a system that despises women who dare to embrace individualism, self-expression, and self-autonomy. — Essence, 5 Jan. 2026 Melissa Fields, the founder of Shades of Gray Design Studio, greatly despises seeing workout supplies in the bedroom. — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 30 Dec. 2025 The feature stars Carrey as the titular green outcast who despises Christmas and Momsen as young Whoville resident Cindy Lou Who. — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 17 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despises
  1. hates
  2. disregards
  3. forgets
  4. scorns
Verb
  • Could Kohberger have been a serial killer in the making, a man who hates women, or is there enough evidence to exonerate him altogether?
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026
  • Crystal hates that shows drop an entire season on release day, and thinks streaming has eroded the monoculture that used to propel powerful franchises to billion-dollar heights.
    — Jack Dunn, Variety, 30 July 2026
Definition of hates
Verb
  • Every message that disregards what a buyer has already revealed is a quiet act of betrayal.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
  • But attorneys for people seeking asylum say the law has long meant anyone arriving at a port of entry should be screened, and blocking arrivals disregards the nation’s ideals.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Definition of disregards
Verb
  • The colleague who recalls the exact figure from a report read months ago, or the friend who never forgets a name out of habit— both register as sharp, and everyone else registers as scattered.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Candace Owens, who often forgets that misogyny applies to her, too, chimed in on their behalf.
    — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 25 July 2026
Definition of forgets
Verb
  • At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026
  • In character as a free spirit who scorns social convention, Davis is all haughty tosses of the head and sneering lines.
    — Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Mar. 2026
Definition of scorns

Browse Nearby Words

despisement
despises
despising
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Cite this Entry

“Despises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despises. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on despises

Nglish: Translation of despises for Spanish Speakers

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