despised; despising
1
: to look down on with disrespect or aversion
despised the weak
2
: to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful
despises organized religion
Examples of despise in a Sentence
He and Julie grooved to Cuban son and jazz on NPR and loved arty films, for instance; and they distrusted big business and despised tract houses, malls, and other aesthetically unpleasing byproducts of a consumer society.
—
Brian C. Anderson, National Review, 13 Mar. 2006
She was despised as a hypocrite.
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Brian C. Anderson, National Review, 13 Mar. 2006
She was despised as a hypocrite.
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Recent Examples on the Web
On state television, tightly controlled by the Kremlin, Washington’s U-turn on providing weapons to Ukraine has been roundly slated, with President Trump being compared to his presidential predecessor, widely despised in Russia.
—Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
What Gauguin despised was the misapplication of religion, not religion itself.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
And Musk ‒ despised by many on the left and now seemingly a Trump foe ‒ would need to recruit candidates to a party that lacks a clear agenda.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 9 July 2025
But what Trump and Musk never understood is that most Americans don't despise government like GOP ideologues do, and would prefer that restructuring only happen after careful review.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
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Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 15 July 2025
What Gauguin despised was the misapplication of religion, not religion itself.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 11 July 2025
And Musk ‒ despised by many on the left and now seemingly a Trump foe ‒ would need to recruit candidates to a party that lacks a clear agenda.
—Joey Garrison, USA Today, 9 July 2025
But what Trump and Musk never understood is that most Americans don't despise government like GOP ideologues do, and would prefer that restructuring only happen after careful review.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for despise
Cite this Entry
“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/despise. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
despise
verb
de·spise
di-ˈspīz 
despised; despising
: to consider as beneath one's notice or respect : feel scorn and dislike for
despiser
noun
despisingly
adverb
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