despise

verb
UK: /dɪˈspaɪz/
US: /dɪˈspaɪz/

  1. To feel a strong dislike and disapproval for someone or something.

    1. I despise liars.
    2. She really despised the way her boss constantly belittled his staff in meetings.

  2. To look down on someone or something as being worthless or inferior.

    1. He despised them.
    2. The athlete despised any opponent he deemed physically weaker than himself.

Synonyms

detest scorn loathe abhor hate

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "despise" in English means: To feel a strong dislike and disapproval for someone or something., To look down on someone or something as being worthless or inferior..

The phonetic transcription of "despise" is /dɪˈspaɪz/ in British English and /dɪˈspaɪz/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "despise": detest, scorn, loathe, abhor, hate.

Example usage of "despise": "I despise liars.". More examples on the page.