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View synonyms for

despite

[ dih-spahyt ]

preposition

  1. in spite of; notwithstanding.


noun

  1. contemptuous treatment; insult.
  2. malice, hatred, or spite.

verb (used with object)

despited, despiting.
  1. Obsolete. to anger or annoy (someone) out of spite.

despite

/ ɪˈ貹ɪ /

preposition

  1. in spite of; undeterred by
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. archaic.
    contempt; insult
  2. in despite of rare.
    preposition in spite of
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr an archaic word for spite
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of despite1

First recorded in 1250–1300; originally in despite of; Middle English despit, from Old French, from Latin ŧ𳦳ٳܲ “view from a height, scorn,” originally past participle of ŧ辱; despicable ( def )
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Word History and Origins

Origin of despite1

C13: from Old French despit, from Latin ŧ𳦳ٳܲ contempt; see despise
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in despite of, in spite of; notwithstanding:

    He was tolerant in despite of his background and education.

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Synonym Study

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The senators wrote that one of Dhillon’s new directives reportedly required the division’s voting rights section to give priority to investigating election fraud, “despite overwhelming evidence” that it “is a rare occurrence.”

From

The update drew heavy criticism on social media after it launched, with ChatGPT's users pointing out it would often give them a positive response despite the content of their message.

From

For years, the U.S. also denied responsibility for Agent Orange cleanup, despite the recognition of dioxin-associated illnesses among U.S. veterans and testing that revealed continuing dioxin exposure among potentially tens of thousands of Vietnamese.

From

Federal investigations were still trying to determine why authorities in Jalisco state took no action for years, despite indications that the cartel had been operating at the ranch since at least 2021.

From

"There are many patients we treat with chronic infections for years, but despite multiple tests we cannot identify the bug responsible," he says.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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