Despise vs Look down

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Despise

Look down

Top 3,000 (common)

	Despise	Look down
Pronunciation		🇬🇧 //lʊk daʊn// 🇺🇸 //lʊk daʊn//
Meaning		To feel superior to someone or something.
Example	-	She tends to look down on people who don't share her interests.
Register	-	Neutral
How common	-	Top 3,000 (common)
Collocations	-	look down on, look down upon, look down at
Antonyms	-	admire, respect, honor
Common mistakes	-	'Look down' used without 'on' in expressions., Confusing 'look down on' with 'look up to'., Incorrectly using 'look down at' instead of 'look down on'.
Usage notes	-	Use 'look down on' to express a sense of superiority or disdain towards people or their actions. Avoid in respectful or formal contexts.

See it in real clips

I despise guessing games.

Despise

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Do not look down.

Friends › S1 E1

Then I look down and I realize there is a phone...

The Lord Of The Rings › The return of the king

Do not look down.

Friends › S1 E1

Then I look down and I realize there is a phone...

Look down

Frequently asked questions: Despise vs Look down

What's the difference between Despise and Look down?

Despise: Look down: To feel superior to someone or something.

Can I use Despise and Look down interchangeably?

Not always. Despise and Look down are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.