Are Despite and In Spite Of the Same?
Both are prepositions that express contrast, but do despite and in spite of mean the same thing?
- Despite is a preposition that means “without being affected by; in spite of” (Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries).
- In spite of is a prepositional phrase that means the exact same thing: “without being affected by the particular factor mentioned” (Merriam-Webster).
The distinction between them is not in meaning, but in usage—they are interchangeable. Both are followed by a noun, pronoun, or gerund (a verb ending in -ing).
He managed to finish the race despite his injury.
She seems happy in spite of her recent difficulties.
Despite is generally considered slightly more formal than in spite of and is more common in written English.
Sentence examples with “Despite” / “In Spite of”
| Word | Example Sentences |
|---|---|
| despite |
Despite the heavy traffic, we arrived on time.
She passed the exam despite having a bad headache. Despite all our efforts, we couldn’t find a solution. |
| in spite of |
They continued their hike in spite of the pouring rain.
He remained cheerful in spite of the bad news. In spite of feeling tired, she finished all her work. |
A common mistake is writing “despite of.” Remember that despite never uses the word of. If you want to use “of,” you must use “in spite of.”
Similar words
| Word | Synonyms |
|---|---|
| despite / in spite of | notwithstanding, regardless of, even with, against, for all |
Word origin
“Despite” comes from the early 13c., despit, “contempt, scorn, defiance,” from Old French despit, from Latin despectus “a looking down on.”
“Spite” shares the same root. The phrase “in spite of” is recorded from c. 1400, originally “in defiance or contempt of,” with the sense of “notwithstanding.”
Practice: Word Choice
______ the rain, we enjoyed our walk in the park.
He went to work ______ feeling very ill.
Which of the following is an incorrect phrase?
______ his best efforts, he failed the exam.
The team played well ______ their lack of practice.
Other topics
FAQs
Are despite and in spite of the same?
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What’s the difference between despite and in spite of?
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Is “despite of” correct?
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What kind of word follows despite or in spite of?
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Can I use despite and in spite of interchangeably?
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Sources
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Oxford Learner’s Dictionary on “despite” and “in spite of”. Accessed 19 April 2024. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of despite.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/despite. Accessed 19 April 2024.
Yash, D. "How to Use Despite vs. In Spite Of (Word Choice)." Grammarflex, Aug 28, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/despite-vs-in-spite-of/.
