What's the difference between "in spite of" and "despite"?

Answer 1

in spite of is intentionally doing something to get back at some one

despite is doing something regardless of what other people are doing... not necessarily spitefull just different

Answer 2

The Oxford American Dictionary, Heald Colleges Edition defines despite as- in spite of, so accordingly they are synonyms. However sometimes one just "sounds" better than the other.
Example:
In spite of bad weather and swarms of insects, we climbed Mt. Rainier.

Despite years of practice, I froze when I performed in front of a large crowd.

Answer 3

Because these two words look alike, people often confuse them. Keep in mind that when using "despite", the word "of" is NEVER following it. Some examples:

a) All agree that more study is need in spite of a growing mass of evidence;
b) All agree that more study is needed despite a growing mass of evidence.;
c) Despite there being three cargo terminals in Boston, there may still be a need to go thru customs in New York.
d) In spite of there being three cargo terminals in Boston, there may stil be a need to go thru customs in New York;
e)This one is NOT correct: In spite of there were three cargo terminals in Boston, there may still be a need to go thru customs in New York