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desprecio

des-PRE-syohdesˈpɾeθjo

scorn, contempt

Also: snub, disregard
NounmB2
General
A person turning their head away and pushing a small, dusty pebble aside with a look of extreme indifference.

📝 In Action

Me miró con desprecio cuando le pedí ayuda.

B1

He looked at me with scorn when I asked him for help.

Siento un profundo desprecio por los mentirosos.

B2

I feel deep contempt for liars.

Su desprecio por la seguridad es muy peligroso.

C1

His disregard for safety is very dangerous.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • desdén (disdain)
  • menosprecio (undervaluing)

Antonyms

  • aprecio (appreciation)
  • admiración (admiration)

Common Collocations

  • sentir desprecio – to feel contempt
  • mostrar desprecio – to show scorn
  • con desprecio – scornfully

Idioms & Expressions

  • hacer un desprecio – to snub or slight someone

I despise

Also: I look down on
VerbB2regular ar
A tall person standing on a hill looking down with a haughty expression at a tiny, simple toy on the ground.
gerunddespreciando
past Participledespreciado
infinitivedespreciar

📝 In Action

Yo desprecio la injusticia en todas sus formas.

B2

I despise injustice in all its forms.

Si desprecio su oferta, se sentirá ofendido.

B2

If I reject/scorn his offer, he will feel offended.

Subjunctive

Imperfect Subjunctive

yodespreciara
túdespreciaras
él/ella/usteddespreciara
nosotrosdespreciáramos
vosotrosdespreciarais
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespreciaran

Present Subjunctive

yodesprecie
túdesprecies
él/ella/usteddesprecie
nosotrosdespreciemos
vosotrosdespreciéis
ellos/ellas/ustedesdesprecien

Indicative

Preterite

yodesprecié
túdespreciaste
él/ella/usteddespreció
nosotrosdespreciamos
vosotrosdespreciasteis
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespreciaron

Imperfect

yodespreciaba
túdespreciabas
él/ella/usteddespreciaba
nosotrosdespreciábamos
vosotrosdespreciabais
ellos/ellas/ustedesdespreciaban

Present

yodesprecio
túdesprecias
él/ella/usteddesprecia
nosotrosdespreciamos
vosotrosdespreciáis
ellos/ellas/ustedesdesprecian
View All Tenses & Moods →

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "desprecio" in Spanish:

contempt→disregard→i despise→scorn→snub→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: desprecio

Question 1 of 2

Which word is the opposite of 'desprecio'?

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

From the Latin 'depretiare', which combines 'de-' (expressing removal or reversal) and 'pretium' (price or value). It literally means to 'un-value' someone or something.

First recorded: 13th century

Cognates (Related words)

English: depreciateFrench: déprécier

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'desprecio' the same as 'odio' (hate)?

Not exactly. 'Odio' is a very intense, active anger. 'Desprecio' is more about looking down on someone or thinking they are beneath you or worthless.

Can 'desprecio' be used for things, or just people?

Both! You can have 'desprecio' for a person's behavior, for a set of rules, or for a specific object you think is low-quality.