as in notwithstanding
without being prevented by
we went to the party despite the bad weather outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
pointedly ignored his false friend out of despite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
sheer despite was the sole reason for her hurtful comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
baffled as to why working-class voters would vote in despite of their own economic interests
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 despite
al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2023
Westbrook recently scored a triple-double despite shooting 7-for-27 from the floor.
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 7 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Preposition
Through the family’s ups and downs, Copeland was a steadying presence, despite his disability.
—al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Noun
Despite the fact that the age of female winners has been steadily increasing in the last despite, the average female Oscar winner is 39 years old, according to a Sky News 2023 report—almost a decade younger than the average male winner at 47.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2023
Westbrook recently scored a triple-double despite shooting 7-for-27 from the floor.
—Bruce Jenkins, SFChronicle.com, 7 Dec. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despite
Preposition
-
Under current law, notwithstanding forthcoming Supreme Court decisions, the president can impose tariffs under sweeping justifications like national security or other emergency powers.—
Andrew Leahey,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s carping notwithstanding, economic growth spiked during Powell’s first year to 3 percent, the highest since the mid-2000s, and wages rose at the fastest rate since before the financial crisis.—
Roger Lowenstein,
The Atlantic,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The contempt resolution is expected to advance out of the committee Wednesday afternoon -- teeing up a full vote on the House floor days later.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
What To Watch For The contempt vote will be held Wednesday, though jail time for the Clintons does not appear to be an imminent threat as the family prepares for a potential legal battle over their subpoena compliance.—
Antonio Pequeño IV,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Trump’s malice and incompetence alienates voters, who then publicly voice their discontent, encouraging other political actors and institutions to see him not as a crusading avatar of national destiny but as a weakened figure.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Here, the trial court allowed limited discovery to determine which of the defendants were responsible for which statements, whether those statements were made with actual malice, and on whether Wunsch had suffered damages as a result of the defendants' statements.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For years, the lawsuit alleged, the fire department had manipulated promotional processes to the disadvantage of Black firefighters.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Here's what to know about the different snow removal tools, including the best uses and disadvantages for each.—
Catherine Messier,
The Providence Journal,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These actions, coupled with her own words, reveal an unacceptable disdain for our constitutional system of checks and balances.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The roots of the crisis lie in the president’s frequently expressed disdain for alliances — NATO in particular.—
Doyle McManus,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But that’s often in spite of, not because of, government design.—
Sal Rodriguez,
Oc Register,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Jennings is held together by tape, adrenaline, and pure spite.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Moreover, the lower price point helps reduce churn, retaining users who might otherwise cancel as expenses increase.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
There are also several billion dollars worth of expenses and network operational efficiencies that should make this deal highly accretive to earnings per share.—
,
CNBC,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Someone that was so divisive and creating content that was purely based on hatred.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Jan. 2026
-
In the same collections of letters and other writing that record his intense hatred, there are also plenty of tender comments about his homeland.—
Amir Ahmadi Arian,
The Dial,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
