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Despite vs Regardless - What's the difference?

despite | regardless |

As prepositions the difference between despite and regardless

is that despite is in spite of, notwithstanding while regardless is paying no attention to; regardless of.

As a noun despite

is disdain, contemptuous feelings, hatred.

As a verb despite

is to vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously.

As an adjective regardless is

having no regard; heedless; careless.

As an adverb regardless is

without attention to warnings or indications of bad consequences.

despite

English

Alternative forms

* despight (obsolete)

Noun

(-)
  • (obsolete) Disdain, contemptuous feelings, hatred.
  • *Bible, Ezekiel xxv. 6
  • *:all thy despite against the land of Israel
  • *1599 , (Much Ado About Nothing), by (William Shakespeare),
  • *:DON PEDRO. Thou wast ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty.
  • (archaic) Action or behaviour displaying such feelings; an outrage, insult.
  • *:
  • *:he asked kynge Arthur yf he wold gyue hym leue to ryde after Balen and to reuenge the despyte' that he had done / Doo your best said Arthur I am right wroth said Balen I wold he were quyte of the ' despyte that he hath done to me and to my Courte
  • *Milton
  • *:a despite done against the Most High
  • Evil feeling; malice, spite.

    • Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • In spite of, notwithstanding.
  • * 1592–1609 , William Shakespeare, Sonnet III :
    • So thou through windows of thine age shall see
    Despite of wrinkles this thy golden time.
  • * 1592–1609 , William Shakespeare, Sonnet XIX :
    • Yet, do thy worst, old Time: despite thy wrong,
    My love shall in my verse ever live young.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1963, author=(Margery Allingham), title=(The China Governess)
    • , chapter=7 citation , passage=The highway to the East Coast which ran through the borough of Ebbfield had always been a main road and even now, despite the vast garages, the pylons and the gaily painted factory glasshouses which had sprung up beside it, there still remained an occasional trace of past cultures.}}

    Derived terms

    * despiteful

    Verb

    (despit)
  • (obsolete) To vex; to annoy; to offend contemptuously.
    • (Sir Walter Raleigh)

    Anagrams

    *

    regardless

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having no regard; heedless; careless.
  • * 1843 , :
    • I grew, day by day, more moody, more irritable, more regardless of the feelings of others.

    Derived terms

    * regardless of

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • Without attention to warnings or indications of bad consequences.
    • Tatiana knew the cauliflower was purple, but she ate it regardless .

    Synonyms

    * anyhow * anyway * at any rate * come what may * in any case

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Paying no attention to; regardless of.
    • Tatiana ate the cauliflower regardless of its colour.

    Usage notes

    * Phrases such as 'regardless if' and 'regardless to' are technically incorrect. English words affected by confusion