Despised

Despised is the past participle and adjective form of the verb despise, meaning to regard with intense dislike or contempt, or to hold in very low esteem. It describes strong negative judgment toward people, groups, opinions, actions, or objects, and is often used when the disapproval is morally or socially significant.

Etymology traces despised to the Latin despicere, meaning “to look down on,” from de- “down” and specere “to look.” The term entered English via Old French and Middle English, retaining its sense of looking with disdain or contempt.

In usage, despised can express personal emotion or broad social attitudes. For example, one might say, “I despise deceit,” or that a regime was “despised by its citizens.” The word frequently carries moral weight and can be emotionally charged. In religious or literary contexts, phrases such as “despised and rejected” emphasize marginalization or suffering.

Despisal often intersects with social dynamics, including power and prejudice. Its use can shape perception by signaling stigma or moral condemnation, and it is commonly employed in historical or narrative writing to convey conflict, resistance, or social change.

See also terms include detested, reviled, scorned, and contempt.

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