N1 Intention and Volition

~をものともせずに: meaning, usage and examples

~をものともせずに means: in defiance of... / making light of... / despite...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれは、周まわりの反対はんたいをものともせずに、自分じぶんの道みちを突つき進すすんだ。

   In defiance of the opposition around him, he forged his own path.

2. 彼女かのじょは、病気びょうきをものともせずに、最後さいごまで舞台ぶたいに立たち続つづけた。

   She continued performing on stage until the very end, despite her illness.

3. 選手せんしゅたちは、激はげしい雨あめをものともせずに試合しあいを続つづけた。

   The players kept on with the game, undaunted by the heavy rain.

4. その新しん会社かいしゃは、大手おおての圧力あつりょくをものともせず、売うり上あげを伸のばしている。

   The new company keeps growing its sales, undeterred by pressure from the big firms.

When to use it

Describes someone overcoming a difficulty bravely, treating it as nothing: bad weather, illness, opposition, pressure. Example: 激はげしい雨あめをものともせず、試合しあいを続つづけた, they kept playing, undaunted by the heavy rain. The result is usually admirable, and the pattern is common in sports reports and success stories.

Nuance

Praise and admiration; written style, news and stories. Used about other people (or groups), not the speaker. The second clause is an achievement or brave action, never a request or a plan.

Compare

を押おして means doing something despite your own condition: 病気びょうきを押おして出席しゅっせきした. を顧かえりみず means ignoring a risk or other people, sometimes with criticism: 危険きけんを顧かえりみず. にもかかわらず is neutral "despite": 雨あめにもかかわらず. ものともせず adds courage.

Tip: ものともせず = "as if it were nothing". The noun is an obstacle: 雨あめ, 怪我けが, 批判ひはん, 反対はんたい.