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desprecio

des-PRE-syoh/desˈpɾeθjo/

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.

🔄 Conjugations

subjunctive

imperfect

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

present

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

indicative

preterite

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

imperfect

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

present

ellos/ellas/ustedesdesprecian
yodesprecio
túdesprecias
vosotrosdespreciáis
nosotrosdespreciamos
él/ella/usteddesprecia
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.