despise something
/dɪˈspaɪz ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
to feel intense contempt for something
She despises dishonesty in any form.
She strongly dislikes and looks down on dishonesty.
formalinformal
To regard something with intense contempt or scorn.
He despises cruelty toward animals.
He feels strong disdain for any form of animal cruelty.
The critic despised the actor's performance.
The critic had a strong negative opinion of the actor's performance.
The verb 'despise' is stronger than 'dislike' and implies a deep-seated aversion.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Usage Context
Use 'despise' for strong, formal disapproval, while 'dislike' is more casual.
Gold Rule
Strength of Feeling
'Despise' conveys deeper contempt than 'dislike' or 'hate'.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'despisen,' from Old French 'despisier,' from Latin 'despicere' (to look down on).
Usage Notes
Often used in formal or literary contexts to express strong disapproval.
Word Breakdown
despise
to feel intense contempt
rootsomething
an unspecified object or concept
objectEnglish Dictionary