despise
To despise someone or something means to feel that they are worthless or to dislike them very much.
Explanation at your level:
To despise means you really do not like something. You think it is bad. You do not want it near you. It is a very strong feeling.
When you despise someone, you feel they are not good people. You have a lot of dislike for them. It is much stronger than just saying 'I don't like this.'
The word despise is used to describe a deep feeling of contempt. If you despise a habit or a person, you feel they are worthless. It is a formal word often used in books or serious news.
Despise implies a moral judgment. You don't just dislike something; you feel it is beneath your standards. It is often used with adverbs like 'utterly' or 'deeply' to show how much you dislike the subject.
Using despise suggests a high level of disdain. It is frequently used in literary contexts to show a character's internal conflict or moral superiority. It carries a sense of looking down upon the object of your focus, rooted in its etymological history of 'looking down'.
Despise functions as a powerful tool in rhetoric. It is often employed to articulate profound societal or personal rejection. Unlike 'hate,' which can be impulsive, 'despise' implies a settled, almost intellectualized sense of contempt. It is the verbal equivalent of a sneer, often used to convey that the subject is unworthy of even the energy required to hate them.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Means deep contempt.
- Stronger than hate.
- Needs an object.
- Formal tone.
When you despise something, you aren't just annoyed by it; you are feeling a deep, intense sense of contempt. It is a powerful word that suggests you look down on the subject as if it were completely worthless.
Think of it as the opposite of admiring someone. If you admire someone, you hold them in high regard, but when you despise them, you feel they are beneath your consideration. It’s a strong emotional reaction that often stems from a difference in values or a sense of moral superiority.
You might hear people say they 'despise liars' or 'despise the way things are handled.' It is a serious word, so use it carefully! It’s much stronger than saying you 'don't like' something.
The word despise has a fascinating journey through history. It comes from the Old French word despisier, which itself traces back to the Latin despicere.
If you break down the Latin, de- means 'down' and specere means 'to look.' So, literally, to despise is to look down on someone! It’s a perfect visual metaphor for the feeling of contempt.
Over the centuries, the word moved from simply 'looking down' to the more emotional 'feeling disgust' that we recognize today. It shares a root with other words like spectator or inspect, which all relate to the act of seeing or looking.
In English, despise is a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object. You don't just 'despise'; you despise something or someone.
It is often used in formal writing or intense personal declarations. Because it is such a strong word, it is rarely used in casual, lighthearted conversation. You wouldn't typically say you 'despise' a sandwich, unless you really, really hate it!
Common collocations include deeply despise, utterly despise, or despise the very idea of. It is a heavy-hitting word that adds a lot of emotional weight to your sentences.
While 'despise' itself isn't always part of a fixed idiom, it is often associated with phrases that express strong negative feelings:
- Look down your nose at: To treat someone as if they are inferior, just like you would if you despised them.
- Hold in contempt: A formal way to say you despise someone's actions.
- Have no use for: A slightly softer way of saying you despise or find no value in something.
- Turn your stomach: Used when something you despise makes you feel physically sick.
- Can't stand the sight of: An informal way to express that you despise someone's presence.
Despise follows standard verb patterns. It is a regular verb in terms of conjugation: despise, despised, despising.
Pronunciation is /dɪˈspaɪz/. Note the 'z' sound at the end, not an 's' sound. The stress is on the second syllable: de-SPIZE.
It rhymes with words like arise, wise, size, prize, and surprise. Remember that it is a stative verb, so we usually don't use it in continuous tenses (like 'I am despising').
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'spectator'.
Pronunciation Guide
Clear 'z' sound at the end.
Similar to UK, stress on second syllable.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it with an 's' sound instead of 'z'.
- Putting stress on the first syllable.
- Confusing the 'i' sound with 'e'.
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Stative Verbs
I despise this.
Transitive Verbs
He despises it.
Gerunds as Objects
She despises waiting.
Examples by Level
I despise cold weather.
I really hate cold.
Verb + noun.
He despises lies.
He hates lying.
Third person singular.
They despise that food.
They hate that meal.
Demonstrative pronoun.
She despises being late.
She hates lateness.
Gerund as object.
I despise bullies.
I hate mean people.
Plural noun.
We despise this mess.
We hate this dirt.
Verb + object.
Do you despise it?
Do you hate it?
Interrogative form.
I do not despise you.
I don't hate you.
Negative form.
I despise the way he treats people.
She despises working on weekends.
Many people despise corruption in politics.
I despise the smell of smoke.
He despises being told what to do.
They despise the noise in the city.
I despise unfair rules.
She despises her old job.
I despise the hypocrisy of the situation.
He was known to despise small talk.
She despised the very idea of giving up.
They despise everything that company stands for.
I despise the way they ignore the truth.
He has always despised laziness in others.
She despises the cold, dark winters.
We despise the lack of respect shown.
He grew to despise the man he once admired.
She utterly despises the corruption in the system.
I despise the way they manipulate the facts.
They were taught to despise weakness.
He despises the arrogance of the elite.
She despises being treated like a child.
I despise the thought of going back there.
They despise the lack of integrity in his work.
He despised the shallow nature of their conversation.
She felt a cold, hard despise for his betrayal.
They despised the very ground he walked on.
I despise the cynicism that permeates this culture.
He despised the hypocrisy inherent in their mission.
She despised the way he looked down on others.
They despise the lack of nuance in the debate.
I despise the ease with which he lies.
His soul was filled with a quiet, burning despise for the status quo.
She despised the artifice of the high-society gala.
He despised the cowardice that kept them silent.
They despised the very essence of the regime.
I despise the way he weaponizes his intellect.
She despised the hollow promises of the politicians.
He despised the banality of their daily existence.
They despised the corruption that rotted the foundation.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"look down one's nose at"
To treat as inferior.
He looks down his nose at everyone.
casual"turn up one's nose at"
To reject with contempt.
She turned up her nose at the offer.
casual"hold in contempt"
To despise formally.
The court held him in contempt.
formal"have no use for"
To find someone/something worthless.
I have no use for liars.
neutral"can't stand the sight of"
To feel intense dislike.
I can't stand the sight of him.
casual"spit upon"
To show extreme contempt.
He spit upon their traditions.
literaryEasily Confused
Similar spelling.
Despite is a preposition.
Despite the rain, we went out.
Starts with 'des-'.
Despair is a feeling of hopelessness.
He fell into despair.
Similar meaning.
Disdain is more about attitude.
He looked with disdain.
Similar intensity.
Detest is slightly more formal.
I detest this task.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + despise + noun
I despise bullies.
Subject + despise + gerund
She despises lying.
Subject + adverb + despise + noun
I deeply despise him.
Subject + despise + the idea of + gerund
He despises the idea of working.
Subject + despise + everything + relative clause
They despise everything that he stands for.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
6/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Despise is too strong for simple things.
It's a stative verb.
They sound similar but mean different things.
It needs a target.
Different meanings.
Tips
The Look Down Trick
Remember the Latin 'de-specere' (look down).
Use with Adverbs
Combine with 'utterly' or 'deeply'.
Villains
Note how villains in movies often use this word.
Stative Verb
Don't use it in continuous tense.
The Z Sound
Make sure to end with a voiced Z.
Don't use for minor things
Don't despise your breakfast.
Etymology
Related to 'spectator'.
Contextualize
Write sentences about historical figures.
Register
Keep it for serious topics.
Transitive
Always have an object.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
De-SPY-ze: Don't spy on people you despise!
Visual Association
Someone standing on a high mountain looking down at something small.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three things you despise and explain why.
Word Origin
Latin
Original meaning: To look down upon
Cultural Context
Can be seen as an aggressive or judgmental word.
Used to express strong moral disagreement.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Politics
- despise corruption
- despise injustice
- despise the system
Relationships
- despise betrayal
- despise lies
- despise hypocrisy
Workplace
- despise laziness
- despise unfairness
- despise micro-management
Literature
- despise the villain
- despise the status quo
- despise the cowardice
Conversation Starters
"What is one thing you truly despise?"
"Why do you think people despise certain behaviors?"
"Is it ever okay to despise someone?"
"How does 'despise' differ from 'hate'?"
"Can you describe a character who is despised?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a time you felt deep contempt.
Describe a villain who is despised by others.
Compare 'despise' and 'dislike'.
Why might someone despise change?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsThey are similar, but despise implies a sense of superiority.
Yes, but it sounds very dramatic.
Yes, it is often used in formal writing.
There isn't a direct noun, but 'despicable' is the adjective.
Like a 'z'.
It is used, but less than 'hate'.
Yes, etymologically it does.
Yes, 'I despise myself' is a common phrase.
Test Yourself
I ___ people who are mean.
Despise fits the context of mean people.
Which is a synonym for despise?
Detest is a synonym.
Despise is a weak word.
It is a very strong word.
Word
Meaning
They relate to the same feeling.
Subject-Verb-Object.
Score: /5
Summary
To despise is to look down on something with deep, moral contempt.
- Means deep contempt.
- Stronger than hate.
- Needs an object.
- Formal tone.
The Look Down Trick
Remember the Latin 'de-specere' (look down).
Use with Adverbs
Combine with 'utterly' or 'deeply'.
Villains
Note how villains in movies often use this word.
Stative Verb
Don't use it in continuous tense.
