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.
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.