French word

mépriser

Pronunciation

IPA/mepʁize/

Meaning

  • verbdespise

Example

Je méprise les mensonges.

I despise lies.

Illustration for mépriser (despise)

More examples

Elle méprise les faux compliments.

She despises false compliments.

Core concept

A cold downward gaze that places a person or idea beneath respect and consideration.

Common phrases

  • mépriser quelqu'un

    despise someone

Similar words

détester: Feel an intense hatred or aversion toward something.
rabaisser: Belittle someone through words or actions, lowering their status or standing.

Definition in French

Traiter quelqu'un comme étant sans valeur ou le regarder avec dédain.

Word origin

French mépriser comes from Old French mespriser, formed with mes- meaning badly or wrongly and priser, from Latin pretium, meaning value.

Usage tips

  • Mépriser takes a direct object, as in mépriser quelqu'un or mépriser quelque chose, without the preposition de.

Other meanings

  • look down onverb
  • disregardverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word