1
as in to hate
to dislike strongly
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despise
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despise
Verb
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As a door-to-door fax machine saleswoman, Sara Blakely hated wearing traditional pantyhose.—
Iain Martin,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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The local media are used to it, but out-of-town media hate the setup.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Verb
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We’re overrun by leaders who are psychopaths or sociopaths (people who disregard social norms and the rights of others).—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
18 July 2025
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Even now, six months into President Trump’s second term, there’s a tendency to disregard his sometimes fiery rhetoric as mere big talk.—
Thomas Elias,
Mercury News,
4 July 2025
Verb
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And who wants an inefficient clean? While floors need cleaning frequently, don’t forget about other areas of your home that could use a good cleaning.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
3 Aug. 2025
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Investors forget to buy low No one is forcing anyone to purchase expensive stocks.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
3 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despise. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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