misprize
Rare/ArchaicFormal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To despise, scorn, or undervalue someone or something.
To hold in contempt; to fail to recognize the true worth or importance of.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a judgment of worthlessness or insignificance, often with a sense of disdain or moral disapproval. It is more active and intentional than simply 'overlook'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning. The word is equally rare and literary in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes a deliberate, sometimes arrogant, underestimation. More likely found in philosophical, historical, or literary contexts.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpora. Slightly more likely to be encountered in older British literary texts, but not common in contemporary AmE either.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] misprizes [Object][Object] is misprized by [Subject]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None commonly associated with this rare verb.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used. 'Undervalue' or 'disregard' would be standard.
Academic
Rare, but possible in literary criticism or philosophy discussing themes of contempt or value.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely. Unfamiliar to most native speakers.
Technical
Not used in any major technical fields.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The aristocrat tended to misprize the opinions of the merchant class.
- One should not misprize the wisdom found in old folklore.
American English
- The critic was accused of misprizing the author's innovative style.
- It is a fatal error to misprize the resolve of your opponent.
adverb
British English
- He spoke misprizingly of their customs, revealing his prejudice.
American English
- She glanced misprizingly at the homemade gift.
adjective
British English
- The misprized sculptor finally gained recognition posthumously.
American English
- Her misprized contributions were later seen as crucial to the project's success.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- A good leader does not misprize the concerns of junior team members.
- Historians warn against misprizing the cultural achievements of past societies.
- The philosopher argued that modern society tends to misprize contemplative life in favour of relentless activity.
- Her novel explores the tragedy of a misprized genius whose work was only understood decades later.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MIS-takenly failing to PRIZE something; you mistakenly decide it has no value.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERESTIMATION IS A MORAL FAILING / TO NOT VALUE IS TO DESPISE
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'misprice' (неправильно оценить стоимость).
- Not a direct equivalent of 'пренебрегать', which is broader and more neutral. 'Misprize' has stronger negative judgment.
- Be careful of false friends with the root 'prize' (приз).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'misprise' (the related but more common noun form).
- Using it in place of the more common 'misunderstand' or 'misjudge'.
- Pronouncing it as /mɪsˈpriːz/ (like 'prize' the noun).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'misprize' in a literary context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare and considered archaic or highly literary. Most native speakers would not use or recognise it in everyday conversation.
'Despise' is a stronger, more general term for intense dislike and contempt. 'Misprize' specifically focuses on the act of assigning too low a value or worth to something, often as a result of that contempt.
Yes, but the noun form is typically 'misprision' (meaning contempt or scorn), which is also rare. 'Misprize' itself is almost exclusively a verb.
For most learners, it is more practical to learn it as a recognition vocabulary item. In active use, synonyms like 'undervalue', 'scorn', or 'disdain' are far more common and widely understood.