despise

[ dih-spahyz ]
See synonyms for: despisedespiseddespising on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),de·spised, de·spis·ing.
  1. to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain; scorn; loathe.

Origin of despise

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English despisen, from Old French despis-, stem of despire, from Latin dēspicere; see despicable

Other words for despise

Opposites for despise

Other words from despise

  • de·spis·a·ble, adjective
  • de·spis·a·ble·ness, noun
  • de·spis·er, noun
  • de·spis·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·de·spised, adjective
  • un·de·spis·ing, adjective

Words Nearby despise

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How to use despise in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for despise

despise

/ (dɪˈspaɪz) /


verb
  1. (tr) to look down on with contempt; scorn: he despises flattery

Origin of despise

1
C13: from Old French despire, from Latin dēspicere to look down, from de- + specere to look

Derived forms of despise

  • despiser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012