1
as in hates
to dislike strongly
I despise anchovies on pizza, and I refuse to eat them!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disregards
to ignore in a disrespectful manner
a traitor hated and despised by the whole community
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of despises
Though Brigitta despises him, Maria shelters him.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
This brief funk is broken when Clay comes home to find his mother — who, like everyone else in their backwoods local area, despises their stunts — watching an old movie on TV.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
The aide, Colonel Dave Butler, a former infantry officer, is a longtime leader in Army public affairs (not a specialty Hegseth embraces) who worked closely with the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (whom Hegseth despises).
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
The production reimagines the titular character as Alice, a novelist who despises hollow contemporary mantras and faces backlash for speaking her mind.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Policing women is a byproduct of patriarchy, a system that despises women who dare to embrace individualism, self-expression, and self-autonomy.
—
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Melissa Fields, the founder of Shades of Gray Design Studio, greatly despises seeing workout supplies in the bedroom.
—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
30 Dec. 2025
The feature stars Carrey as the titular green outcast who despises Christmas and Momsen as young Whoville resident Cindy Lou Who.
—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Nov. 2025
Maybe your coworker has an upcoming presentation to senior leadership or your friend despises mushrooms.
—
Lorraine K. Lee,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 Apr. 2026
This brief funk is broken when Clay comes home to find his mother — who, like everyone else in their backwoods local area, despises their stunts — watching an old movie on TV.
—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2026
The aide, Colonel Dave Butler, a former infantry officer, is a longtime leader in Army public affairs (not a specialty Hegseth embraces) who worked closely with the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley (whom Hegseth despises).
—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
The production reimagines the titular character as Alice, a novelist who despises hollow contemporary mantras and faces backlash for speaking her mind.
—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
Policing women is a byproduct of patriarchy, a system that despises women who dare to embrace individualism, self-expression, and self-autonomy.
—
Essence,
5 Jan. 2026
Melissa Fields, the founder of Shades of Gray Design Studio, greatly despises seeing workout supplies in the bedroom.
—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
30 Dec. 2025
The feature stars Carrey as the titular green outcast who despises Christmas and Momsen as young Whoville resident Cindy Lou Who.
—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Nov. 2025
Maybe your coworker has an upcoming presentation to senior leadership or your friend despises mushrooms.
—
Lorraine K. Lee,
CNBC,
8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despises
Verb
-
What William rather surprisingly revealed, though, is that his father—King Charles—hates soccer.
-
Lulu, an 80-pound Bernedoodle, hates Independence Day.
Verb
-
But attorneys for people seeking asylum say the law has long meant anyone arriving at a port of entry should be screened, and blocking arrivals disregards the nation’s ideals.
-
Bhattacharya said the test-negative design disregards data about people who were never hospitalized.
Verb
-
There’s a great accidental gag in a cut bit from the original MTV pilot when a deputy pulls up to arrest Knoxville and forgets to put her car in park.
-
Each time the price comes back down, Europe forgets what the spike was trying to say.
Verb
-
At a raucous commission meeting Tuesday, City Manager Rickelle Williams faced a storm of withering accusations in her initial job evaluation — mostly from Mayor Dean Trantalis, who eagerly supported hiring Williams last year but now scorns her in public.
-
In character as a free spirit who scorns social convention, Davis is all haughty tosses of the head and sneering lines.
Cite this Entry
“Despises.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despises. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
