despise
dih-SPYZ
/dɪˈspaɪz/
To feel deep contempt, disgust, or disdain for someone or something.
Combines intense hatred with a strong sense of condescension or looking down upon the object.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'despicere', formed from 'de-' (downward) and 'specere' (to look at). Literally, to despise someone is to 'look down upon them' with utter contempt as if they are beneath your gaze.
Word relationships
- scorn: Scorn emphasizes open mock or dismissal, while despise focuses on deep internal contempt.
- disdain: Disdain stresses a feeling of superiority, whereas despise involves a more intense passion of hatred.
- respect: Respect involves holding someone in high esteem rather than looking down on them.
- admire: Admire means regarding someone with pleasure and approval.
Commonly confused with
- despite: Despite is a preposition meaning 'in spite of', whereas despise is a verb meaning to hate or look down on.
Word family
- despicable (adjective): Deserving hatred and contempt.
- despiser (noun): One who despises.
Collocations
- thoroughly despise
- despise hypocrisy
- despise cowardice
Example sentences
- "I have been used to consider them as polite; I now despise them." Classic fiction
- "She came to despise politicians who made extravagant promises they never intended to keep." Everyday context
Memory hook
When you DESPISE someone, you look DOWN from a high SPY tower with disgust. Look down upon with contempt.
When not to use
Avoid if you simply disagree with someone without looking down on them as inferior or worthless.
Fun facts
- The root 'specere' (to look) is one of the most prolific in English, giving us 'spectacles', 'inspector', 'aspect', and 'suspect'.
Related words
Explore more words
despicable, antipathy, haughty, derisive, condescending, derision
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