despise
gb/dɪspˈaɪz/ us/dɪspˈaɪz/
C1
English
~ 5200
megvet
VERB
C1
1
megvet
B2
Usage pattern:
to despise [someone/something]
She openly despises anyone who lies to her.
Nyíltan megvet mindenkit, aki hazudik neki.
He despises violence and refuses to watch action movies.
Megveti az erőszakot, és nem hajlandó akciófilmeket nézni.
They secretly despise each other but pretend to be friends in public.
I despise the way he talks to his employees, as if they were children.
Growing up poor, he came to despise the arrogance of the rich.
Learner examples
I despise people who are cruel to animals.
Megvetem azokat az embereket, akik kegyetlenül bánnak az állatokkal.
She despises her boss because he is rude.
Megveti a főnökét, mert udvariatlan.
My father despises smoking and never allows it in our house.
They despise corruption in government.
He despises himself for not telling the truth.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "despise" with "despite"; these words are unrelated. "Despite" is a preposition meaning "in spite of" (e.g., "Despite the rain, we went out"), while "despise" is a verb meaning to strongly hate and not respect someone or something (e.g., "I despise lies"). Another mistake is overusing "despise" when a softer verb like "dislike" or "not like" is more natural in everyday conversation, because "despise" is very strong. Also, avoid patterns like *"I despise to wait"*; use the -ing form: "I despise waiting."
Meaning
feel strong dislike and contempt
Collocations
deeply despise
|secretly despise
|openly despise
|despise myself
|despise authority
|despise violence
Synonyms
hate (More common and general; it may be less about lack of respect and more about strong negative feeling.)
|
detest (Very strong dislike, close in strength to "despise" but slightly less focused on looking down on someone.)
|
loathe (Suggests disgust as well as hatred, often with a physical or emotional revulsion.)
|
scorn (Emphasizes the feeling that someone or something is worthless or beneath you.)
Antonyms
respect (Opposite in terms of valuing and looking up to someone instead of looking down on them.)
|
admire (Opposite emotional attitude: to strongly approve of and look up to someone.)
|
value (Opposite in terms of considering someone or something important and worthy, rather than worthless.)
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To hate someone or something very strongly and not respect them at all.
To feel a very strong dislike for someone or something and to have no respect for them or it.
Grammar
Dictionary form
despise
IPA
GB/dɪspˈaɪz/
US/dɪspˈaɪz/
Syllables & stress
des - pise (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pise)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: despise
- 3rd Person Singular: despises
- Present Participle: despising
- Past: despised
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.