as in notwithstanding
without being prevented by
we went to the party despite the bad weather outside
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in contempt
open dislike for someone or something considered unworthy of one's concern or respect
pointedly ignored his false friend out of despite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
sheer despite was the sole reason for her hurtful comments
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
baffled as to why working-class voters would vote in despite of their own economic interests
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of despite
al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Andrew Hirschfeld, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
And then - despite barely stepping over the halfway line - the hosts hit the crossbar and had a shout for a penalty.
—SI.com, 25 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Preposition
Through the family’s ups and downs, Copeland was a steadying presence, despite his disability.
—al, 6 May 2020
Los Angeles County beaches will remain closed for the time being, despite other coastal stretches reopening — with limitations — this week in nearby Orange County with the state’s blessing.
—Los Angeles Times, 6 May 2020
Noun
Harris’ campaign fundraising output has stayed consistent in first quarter around $12 million and $11.8 million in second quarter despite, as first reported by Politico, shakeups among senior campaign staff.
—Andrew Hirschfeld, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2019
And then - despite barely stepping over the halfway line - the hosts hit the crossbar and had a shout for a penalty.
—SI.com, 25 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for despite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for despite
Preposition
-
At the same time, France, notwithstanding a recent strike at the Louvre against unmanageable crowds, has seen relatively little protests.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
-
Some daylight has begun to emerge between Israel and the United States on Gaza as well as on other issues, including the Houthis in Yemen, the new government in Syria, and even to some extent on Iran, notwithstanding the U.S. intervention.—
Max Rodenbeck,
Foreign Affairs,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
This containment allows partners to express anger, frustration or hurt without slipping into destructive patterns like contempt, stonewalling or emotional withdrawal.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
-
Rather, state law says they can be held in contempt of court or sued by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Beneath the inevitable finger-pointing and politicizing, there is often a genuine, even desperate, human impulse to find fault not out of malice, but out of mourning and a desire to find solutions.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
To hunt a predator feels like an act of malice, of dominance, of ego.—
Helen Whybrow
July 7,
Literary Hub,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
Walking away entirely from UNEP would put us at a disadvantage.—
Kristen Edgreen Kaufman,
Forbes.com,
8 July 2025
-
As my colleague Hayley Smith reports, weakening the three agencies at the start of fire season puts California at a dangerous disadvantage.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
Noun
-
In speeches and interviews as health secretary, Kennedy has made clear his disdain for mainstream autism research, brushing aside the insights gained for this tremendously complex condition through years of research.—
Caren Zucker,
The Atlantic,
6 July 2025
-
Mason's family murmured their disdain from the back of the courtroom while Broadwell addressed her.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
With the right approach, sales teams can grow through disruption, not in spite of it.—
Julie Thomas,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
In spite of his advocacy, Keefe never lost sight that the goal of litigation was justice, according to U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who faced Keefe very early in his career, first as a trial lawyer and later as U.S. Attorney.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
Under the program, up to five new housing projects restricted to those making between 60-100% of the area median income will be exempt from paying property taxes and state sales taxes on construction expenses in return for giving the DHA a small ownership stake in the real estate.—
Matthew Geiger,
Denver Post,
4 July 2025
-
In addition to the tax cuts, businesses (employers) will be permitted to continue writing off equipment costs and expenses in the first year of purchase.—
Terina Allen,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2025
Noun
-
It's been very difficult to see just how much of this hatred has been normalized.—
Leila Fadel,
NPR,
1 July 2025
-
Period drama enthusiasts will be interested to know that Wright set the movie in the late-18th century instead of the early-19th century in part because of his hatred of empire waist dresses.—
Lia Beck,
EW.com,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Despite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despite. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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