as in disdain
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
the undisguised despitefulness with which the fashion designer announces his "10 worst" list
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despitefulness
Noun
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Until then, the SPLC mainly made money off of its donor base’s disdain toward the Ku Klux Klan.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026 -
Part of what made La Peste distinctive was the vocal balance Dayton struck, between disdain and an almost deadpan affect.—
Eric R. Danton,
Pitchfork,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Lawlor’s account helps explain why this contempt is so corrosive.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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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
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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
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Despitefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despitefulness. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
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