despite、in spite of与notwithstanding这些前置词或前置短语都含有“虽然、尽管”之意。
despite : 书面用词，指不受某事或某种原因的阻碍，语气轻于in spite of。
- I still enjoyed the week despite the weather.
尽管天气不好，这一周我过得还是很愉快的。 - Despite repeated assurances that the product is safe, many people have stopped buying it.
尽管已反复保证了该产品的安全性，很多人还是不再购买。
in spite of : 在这些词中语气最强，可与despite换用，口语或书面语中均可使用。
- In spite of his injury, Ricardo will play in Saturday's match.
尽管里卡多有伤在身，星期六的比赛他仍会出场。 - In spite of great peril, I have survived.
虽然处境非常危险，我还是挺过来了。 - He was there on the stroke in spite of the rain.
尽管下雨，他还是准时到了。
notwithstanding : 语气最弱，仅表示一种障碍的存在。
- Injuries notwithstanding, the team won the semifinal.
尽管队员有伤病，球队还是在半决赛中获胜。 - Notwithstanding some major financial problems, the school has had a successful year.
虽然有些重大的经费问题，这所学校一年来还是很成功。
