Master confusing words with ease
Despise vs. Hate
Despise
/dɪˈspaɪz/Examples:
She despises being told how to live her life.Politicians who distort facts are widely despised.He despised the taste of bitter herbs.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Hate
/heɪt/Examples:
I don't give anyone a reason to hate me.Hated her for being rich and beautiful and careless and brainless.We will not have a lot of fellows hating us."
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Hate is a more common word and has a broader usage than despise.
- Despise is used to express a stronger form of dislike with an element of contempt.
- You might hate vegetables but despise someone who is dishonest.
- Hate can refer to both mild and intense levels of dislike, but despise suggests a deep disdain.
- If something goes against your morality or ethics deeply, you might use despise rather than just hate.
© 2025 Lithium Lab Pte Ltd