Despise
To feel intense contempt for; to hate or loathe; to regard as unworthy or worthless.
verbDespise
To feel intense contempt for; to hate or loathe; to regard as unworthy or worthless.
verbImagine This
Imagine a judge on a tall pedestal looking down at a contestant who has betrayed trust; the judge feels deep contempt and quietly says, 'I despise that behavior.'
Sounds Like
dih-SPIZ
Looks Like
Looks similar to 'despised' (past participle) or 'despicable' due to shared root and meaning (look down on).
Remember This
Despise expresses contempt or strong disapproval, not just everyday dislike. It can be followed by a gerund (despise doing something) or by a noun phrase (despise cruelty).
Other Forms
Connect With
detest, loathe, disdain, scorn, contempt
Note
Despise is transitive and requires a direct object (despise someone or something). Do not confuse with 'despite,' which means 'in spite of' and has a different meaning and usage.