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Despise: meaning, definitions and examples

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despise

 

[ dɪˈspaɪz ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

in relationships

Feel intense dislike for someone or something.

Synonyms

detest, hate, loathe

Examples of usage

  • I despise liars.
  • She despised her ex-husband for his betrayal.
  • He despises anyone who doesn't share his political views.
Context #2 | Verb

general

Regard with contempt or scorn.

Synonyms

disdain, look down on, scorn

Examples of usage

  • She despised the way he treated his employees.
  • He despised the idea of working for a corrupt company.

Translations

Translations of the word "despise" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desprezar

🇮🇳 घृणा करना

🇩🇪 verachten

🇮🇩 membenci

🇺🇦 зневажати

🇵🇱 gardzić

🇯🇵 軽蔑する

🇫🇷 mépriser

🇪🇸 despreciar

🇹🇷 hor görmek

🇰🇷 경멸하다

🇸🇦 يحتقر

🇨🇿 pohrdat

🇸🇰 pohrdať

🇨🇳 鄙视

🇸🇮 prezirati

🇮🇸 fyrirlíta

🇰🇿 жек көру

🇬🇪 ზიზღი

🇦🇿 nifrət etmək

🇲🇽 despreciar

Etymology

The word 'despise' originated from the Latin word 'despicere', which means 'to look down on'. Over time, the meaning evolved to convey a strong feeling of dislike or contempt towards someone or something. The usage of 'despise' can be traced back to Middle English, where it was commonly used in literature and everyday language to express disdain or hatred.

See also: despicable.

Word Frequency Rank

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