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Despise - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

To despise means to feel intense dislike or contempt for someone or something. It implies a strong aversion, often accompanied by scorn or disdain, and is more severe than simple dislike.

despise

/dɪˈspaɪz/ /dɪˈspaɪz/

Definition:

To feel contempt or deep dislike for someone or something.

Synonyms:

loathe, detest, scorn, disdain, abhor

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

admire, love, respect

Common Collocations:

despise hypocrisy, despise weakness, despise injustice, despise cruelty

Derivatives:

despiser, despisingly

Usage Tips:

Use "despise" for strong dislike; avoid overuse in casual contexts to maintain impact.

Common Phrases:

despise with a passion, utterly despise, openly despise

Etymology:

From Old French *despire*, Latin *despicere* ("look down on").

Examples:

  • 1. She despises people who lie to get ahead.
  • 2. He openly despised the unfair rules at school.
  • 3. They despise cruelty to animals and always report it.
  • 4. Many despise the cold weather and prefer summer instead.
  • 5. I despise laziness when teamwork is required for success.

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