2 syllables: de, spised. Stress on spised.
dis-PEYEZD
/dɪˈspaɪzd/
despised is pronounced dis-PEYEZD (/dɪˈspaɪzd/). It has two syllables (de-spised), with the stress on "spised". Despised describes a strong feeling of contempt or intense dislike toward someone or something. The term is commonly used in formal or literary contexts to label actions, opinions, or individuals that are looked down upon. It conveys a past-tense judgment, often implying that the subject was commonly held in ill regard or rejected by others.
Despised describes a strong feeling of contempt or intense dislike toward someone or something. The term is commonly used in formal or literary contexts to label actions, opinions, or individuals that are looked down upon. It conveys a past-tense judgment, often implying that the subject was commonly held in ill regard or rejected by others.
"Her actions were widely despised by the community."
"He felt despised after the betrayals were exposed."
"The regime was despised for its brutality and corruption."
Despised is pronounced /dɪˈspaɪzd/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: de-SPIZED. Start with a short, lax /dɪ/ before the long, high-front diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable, then end with a voiced /z/ plus a clear /d/ release. Think “dih-SPYZD” with the final zed sound tied to a quick d release. For listening reference, compare to words like “despite” and “despise.” IPA helps you place the tongue: front tongue for /ɪ/, then a high-front tongue position for /aɪ/ glide, and a vibrating vocal fold for /z/ before the final /d/.
Two frequent errors: (1) Not stressing the second syllable, saying /ˈdɛspɪzd/ instead of /dɪˈspaɪzd/, which flattens the word. (2) Slurring the /aɪ/ into a short /ɪ/ or /əɪ/ making it sound like /-spiːzd/ or /-spɪzd/. Correction: tighten the /aɪ/ diphthong by finishing with a clear glide to /ɪ/ before the final /zd/. Also ensure the /z/ is a voiced fricative, not silent, followed immediately by /d/ without extra stop. Practice with minimal pairs: des-pized vs despised.
US: /dɪˈspaɪzd/ with a rhotic, clear /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ diphthong; UK: /dɪˈspaɪzd/ similar, but the /ɪ/ may be slightly shorter and the /d/ pronounced with less release after /z/ in rapid speech; AU: /dɪˈspaɪzd/ tends to be flattened vowel length and softer /d/ at end. The main difference is vowel quality and rhotic influence; US tends toward a tight /ɪ/ and pronounced /z/ and /d/; UK can reduce the first vowel slightly and AU may have a more centralized /ɪ/ and softer final consonants.
The challenge lies in the middle diphthong /aɪ/ paired with ending /zd/, where the tongue moves from a high front position to a near-high front position while the voice continues. The /z/ and /d/ sequence can fuse in fast speech, creating a /z/ or /ɪzd/ cluster confusion. Also, keeping the stress correctly on the second syllable while not delaying the /d/ release requires precise timing and breath control.
A useful tip is to think of it as two parts: de-SPYZD. Start with /dɪ/ quickly, then push into /ˈspaɪzd/ by guiding the tongue to a high front position for /aɪ/ and finishing with a crisp /z/ and /d/. Visualize the mouth shaping: lips relaxed, jaw drops slightly for /ɪ/, then a rounded move into the /aɪ/ glide, and a brief voicing for /z/ plus a clean /d/ release.
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Despised comes from the verb despise, which derives from Old French despis (to scorn, to loathe), from Latin despicere (to look down on, to scorn). The Latin term is composed of de- (down, away) + spēre (to look). In Middle English, despisen/despisen evolved to the modern despise, with -ed marking the past participle/adjective form. The core meaning shifted from “to look down upon” to a stronger moral or social denunciation. By the 16th century, despised appeared in English texts as the passive/adjective form indicating someone who was looked upon with contempt. Over time, usage broadened from moral judgment to general strong dislike in both formal and colloquial contexts. First known printed uses appear in Early Modern English literature, aligning with the broader expansion of vocabulary around judgment and social sanction. The word has remained stable in meaning, though stylistic preference for despised can vary by register, occasionally replaced by more neutral terms like disliked in contemporary discourse. The verb form despise remains widely used, while despised as an adjective retains a weightier, evaluative tone.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "despised" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "despised" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "despised"
-sed sounds
-zed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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