spiteful

[ spahyt-fuhl ]
See synonyms for: spitefulspitefullyspitefulness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. full of spite or malice; showing spite; malicious; malevolent; venomous: a spiteful child.

Origin of spiteful

1
A late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at spite, -ful

synonym study For spiteful

Spiteful, revengeful, vindictive refer to a desire to inflict a wrong or injury on someone, usually in return for one received. Spiteful implies a mean or malicious desire for (often petty) revenge: a spiteful attitude toward a former friend. Revengeful implies a deep, powerful, and continued intent to repay a wrong: a fierce and revengeful spirit. Vindictive does not imply action necessarily, but stresses the unforgiving nature of the avenger: a vindictive look.

Other words for spiteful

Opposites for spiteful

Other words from spiteful

  • spite·ful·ly, adverb
  • spite·ful·ness, noun
  • un·spite·ful, adjective
  • un·spite·ful·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use spiteful in a sentence

  • I gather, from your report of it, it's a regular old-fashioned hair-pulling sort of feminine spitefulness.

    In the Onyx Lobby | Carolyn Wells
  • There was no longer the same zest in the little scandals and petty spitefulness of a private school.

    Sinister Street, vol. 1 | Compton Mackenzie
  • It is the essence of spitefulness to say that nothing can be a benefit which does not cause some inconvenience to the giver.

  • "Chick-a-rer chick" is its usual call-note, jerked out with great spitefulness.

    Bird Neighbors | Neltje Blanchan
  • Neither his mother nor the baron noticed his attitude of spitefulness.

    The Burning Secret | Stefan Zweig

British Dictionary definitions for spiteful

spiteful

/ (ˈspaɪtfʊl) /


adjective
  1. full of or motivated by spite; vindictive

Derived forms of spiteful

  • spitefully, adverb
  • spitefulness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012