To strongly dislike or have no respect for someone or something.
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/
A strong feeling of dislike or aversion towards someone or something
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 general and common term for strong dislike or aversion.
Despise is a stronger term, often suggesting contempt or scorn in a deeper sense.
Think of hate as disliking intensely, while despise suggests looking down on someone or something with disdain.
Hate can be an emotional response without much thought, while despise typically involves judgment and perceived inferiority.
Use hate in everyday contexts to describe strong dislike, but reserve despise for when you feel contemptuous.