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⇱ despise - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


despise

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/dɪˈspaɪz/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/dɪˈspaɪz/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(di spīz)

Inflections of 'despise' (v): (⇒ conjugate)
despises
v 3rd person singular
despising
v pres p
despised
v past
despised
v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•spise /dɪˈspaɪz/USA pronunciation   v. [ + obj], -spised, -spis•ing. 
  1. to look on with contempt or disdain:I despised their actions.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
de•spise  (di spīz),USA pronunciation v.t., -spised, -spis•ing. 
  1. to regard with contempt, distaste, disgust, or disdain;
    scorn;
    loathe.
  • Latin dēspicere; see despicable
  • Old French despis-, stem of despire
  • Middle English despisen 1250–1300
de•spisa•ble, adj. 
de•spisa•ble•ness, n. 
de•spiser, n. 
de•spising•ly, adv. 
    contemn, detest.
    admire.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
despise /dɪˈspaɪz/ vb
  1. (transitive) to look down on with contempt; scorn: he despises flattery
Etymology: 13th Century: from Old French despire, from Latin dēspicere to look down, from de- + specere to lookdeˈspiser n
'despise' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: despised by [all, some, most, everybody], despise the [idea, thought, notion, smell] of, despise all [bad wines, politicians, police], more...

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