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Definition of despite

despite

/dɪˈspaɪt/
de · spite
Adverb:despitefully
•
Plural:despites
•
Adjective:despiteful
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despite Lexical Profile

despite Game Scores & Validity

• preposition

1

Without being affected or prevented by; in spite of.

Example

"The outdoor concert went ahead as scheduled despite the heavy rain."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

Contemptuous treatment, malice, or active ill will (now chiefly archaic or literary, except in phrases like 'in despite of').

Example

"The exiled nobleman bore the monarch's open despite with quiet dignity."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for despite

Word Nuance & Usage

When used as a preposition, 'despite' takes a noun, pronoun, or gerund directly without 'of' (unlike 'in spite of'); using 'despite of' is a common grammatical error.

• Rhymes for despite

• Nearby Words

despicably
despise
despiser
despite
despondence
despondency
despondent

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English 'despit', borrowed from Old French 'despit', from Latin 'despectus' ('a looking down on, contempt'), past participle of 'despicere' ('to look down upon'). The shortened form 'spite' developed from it.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Despite. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/despite
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