01
verachten
to despise
To feel deep contempt or dislike for someone or something and look down on the person or thing.
example
Er verachtet Menschen, die ihre Versprechen nicht halten.
He despises people who do not keep their promises.
verachten
to despise / to defy
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verachten' (to despise) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always stays attached to the stem 'achten' (to respect/pay attention to). It reverses the meaning of 'achten' (to respect) into its opposite.
EXAMPLE
Sie verachtete ihn für seine Lügen.
She despised him for his lies.
Use with the accusative
The verb 'verachten' (to despise) always requires a direct object in the accusative. You always despise 'jemanden' (someone) or 'etwas' (something).
EXAMPLE
Er verachtet jede Form von Gewalt.
He despises every form of violence.
Strong and formal word
'Verachten' (to despise) is a very strong word that expresses deep dislike. It is mainly used in written language or in formal contexts.
EXAMPLE
In seiner Rede sagte er, dass er Korruption zutiefst verachte.
In his speech, he said that he deeply despised corruption.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'sich über etwas hinwegsetzen' (to disregard/defy something), 'verachten' is often combined with abstract concepts such as 'den Tod' (death), 'die Gefahr' (danger), or 'die Regeln' (the rules).
EXAMPLE
Der Held der Geschichte verachtete den Tod und stürzte sich in den Kampf.
The hero of the story defied death and threw himself into battle.
Compare with
verachten vs achten
to pay attention / to respect
'achten' and 'verachten' are opposites when it comes to one's attitude toward a person or thing. 'achten' means to respect and value someone or something. 'verachten' is much more negative: you look down on someone or feel deep dislike. Learners may confuse the words because of their similar form. The important point is: 'verachten' does not simply mean 'not pay attention to'. It means strong contempt. For normal respect, use 'achten'; for a very negative attitude, use 'verachten'.
verachten
Der Lehrer verachtet niemanden, nur weil jemand Fehler macht.
The teacher does not despise anyone just because they make mistakes.
achten
Er achtet seine Freunde, auch wenn sie manchmal anderer Meinung sind.
He respects his friends, even when they sometimes have a different opinion.
In real life
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