Despise: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The word comes from the Latin 'despicere', meaning 'to look down upon', highlighting a sense of disdain.
• It entered the English language in the 14th century and has been used to express strong feelings of contempt.
• The prefix 'de-' suggests removal, combined with the idea of looking down on someone.

Psychology

• Feeling this way often links to perceived threats to one’s self-esteem or values.
• Studies show that strong feelings of contempt can affect interpersonal relationships, leading to conflicts.
• This emotion can also reveal underlying insecurities—the things we despise in others can sometimes reflect our own flaws.

Pop Culture

• In literature, characters who despise others often serve as antagonists, showcasing moral conflict.
• Famous songs and movies frequently explore the theme of despising a person after a betrayal, such as in break-up anthems.
• Reality TV often highlights moments of despise as dramatic turning points in relationships between contestants.

Literature

• Classic works often depict characters who despise the institutions or social norms of their time, such as in works by Charles Dickens.
• Shakespeare’s plays often include themes of disdain, where characters express strong dislike toward others in their soliloquies.
• Literary analysis sometimes explores how despising others can reveal hidden desires or ambitions within a character.

Philosophy

• Many philosophical discussions focus on the moral implications of despising others, often linking it to concepts of virtue and ethics.
• Existentialists argue that despising others can lead to a crisis of personal authenticity when one judges others harshly.
• Utilitarian philosophers might debate whether feeling this way can ever be justified if it leads to greater happiness or good.

Ranked #11,841, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.

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