as in notwithstanding
without being prevented by
we went to the party despite the bad weather outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
pointedly ignored his false friend out of despite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
sheer despite was the sole reason for her hurtful comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
baffled as to why working-class voters would vote in despite of their own economic interests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despite
al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Andrew Hirschfeld, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
And then - despite barely stepping over the halfway line - the hosts hit the crossbar and had a shout for a penalty.
—SI.com, 25 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Preposition
Through the family’s ups and downs, Copeland was a steadying presence, despite his disability.
—al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Noun
Harris’ campaign fundraising output has stayed consistent in first quarter around $12 million and $11.8 million in second quarter despite, as first reported by Politico, shakeups among senior campaign staff.
—Andrew Hirschfeld, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
And then - despite barely stepping over the halfway line - the hosts hit the crossbar and had a shout for a penalty.
—SI.com, 25 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despite
Preposition
-
The good news is that Saturday's win notwithstanding—which was fueled by a career-high 44-point eruption from Quentin Grimes—playing Maxey through his injury could help their tanking efforts.—
Bryan Toporek,
Forbes,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Another year, another Oscars, 97th in a series, presented live from the Dolby Theatre, on the former site of the Hollywood Hotel, structurally indistinguishable from Oscars that were — pandemic variations notwithstanding — and Oscars that will be.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
With contempt and termination by an unelected billionaire who never served in a uniform in his life.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2025
-
People were simply happy to see each other again, having gone through the final season boycott and reverse boycott together and unified in their disdain for A’s owner John Fisher but with no contempt for the players and coaches who had no choice but to follow their job out of town.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Pete Hegseth, Trump’s profoundly unqualified defense secretary, made the malice clear by calling explicitly for Brown’s ouster along with that of any other officer involved with DEI.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Woe’s Hollow is where Kier Eagan first tamed the four tempers of the human soul: woe, frolic, dread, and malice.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The Magic’s ineptitude puts them at a severe disadvantage on most nights.—
Josh Robbins,
The Athletic,
25 Feb. 2025
-
On Reddit, a new mom ranted about how working conditions in corporate America put parents at a disadvantage.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But, then, genuine misanthropic disdain is part of Verhoeven's tool kit.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Musk has long voiced disdain for Biden and notably was not invited to the administration's electric vehicle summit in 2021.—
Newsweek,
Newsweek,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
In spite of its high levels of salinity, Utah’s Great Salt Lake harbors all sorts of resident and migratory bird species throughout the year—and for anyone wishing to discover the rich biodiversity of the region firsthand, Antelope Island is the perfect spot.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
-
The desire to avoid portraying her character’s actions as simply disgusting led de Van to play the lead role herself, in spite of the challenges that created for her as a first-time feature director.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Federal investigators have twice before visited Dolton’s Village Hall in search of documents, including expense reimbursements and other payments made to Mayor Tiffany Henyard.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Mar. 2025
-
That move has raised concerns that the lower prices will come at the expense of product quality, the person said.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Democrats, blinded by their hatred of him, have ignored this.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Debra Messing, who has produced a new documentary on (horseshoe-theory) antisemitism called October 8, has been one of Hollywood’s few intensely admirable exceptions, calling out anti-Jewish hatred with a fierce constancy over the past 16 months.—
Steven Zeitchik,
The Hollywood Reporter,
1 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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