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
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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
-
Judge Nathan Vu on April 10 granted the city’s motion for a judgment notwithstanding the verdict, which found that while workplace political factions may be toxic, they are not legally protected classes under California employment law.—
Mona Darwish,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Geopolitical threats from China notwithstanding, Taiwan’s economy in 2025 is firing on all cylinders.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lawlor’s account helps explain why this contempt is so corrosive.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The small band of House Republicans who backed the effort to subpoena former Attorney General Pam Bondi have brushed off a plan from Democrats to hold her in contempt, leading to a split in the parties on how much there is to glean from hearing from her.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The jury did not find Mimms guilty of malice murder.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Coel bites into the acerbic bitterness of that history in their early exchanges, with a vein of malice in questions supposedly intended to reveal who Mary has become and hence what kind of dress will feel true to her.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The era of the concert hall was at hand, and the same qualities that had made the mandolin attractive at home now put it at a disadvantage.—
Tim Parks,
New Yorker,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Those will be difficult headwinds for Whatley to combat, Bitzer and Roberts both said, especially since members of the sitting president’s party already tend to be at a disadvantage in competitive midterm elections.—
Mary Ramsey
April 9,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Trump is pouring similar disdain on America’s treaty allies in Asia.—
Andreas Kluth,
Twin Cities,
14 Apr. 2026
-
But this wasn’t enough to overcome disdain at home for his apparent corruption and economic mismanagement, and voters showed this week that democracy is alive and well in Central Europe.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As if out of spite, Dido became the most normal pop star in the world.—
Shaad D’Souza,
Pitchfork,
19 Apr. 2026
-
In spite of their impact on climate change, fossil fuels are winning the race.—
Dave Trecker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some small businesses can handle bookkeeping with spreadsheets, DIY invoicing and ad-hoc expense approvals.—
Dana Miranda,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
-
That same month, the price of Bitcoin — in which most of Borhanian’s life savings was invested, money that was covering much of the group’s expenses at that time — cratered.—
Tessa Stuart,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Hard fouls, trash talk and verbal jabs on the floor, and in the media, set a slight tone of hatred that fuels competitiveness and creates lasting memories.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Like Carlson, his hatred of Jews led him to claim support for the one minority with which the state of the Jewish people is in conflict.—
Alan M. Dershowitz,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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