spite
[ spahyt ]
/ spaɪt /
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noun
a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.
a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.
verb (used with object), spit·ed, spit·ing.
to treat with spite or malice.
to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
to fill with spite; vex; offend.
SYNONYMS FOR spite
VIDEO FOR SPITE
WATCH NOW: What's The Difference Between "Spite" And "Despite"?
If you cut off your nose despite your face, that’s like lopping off your schnoz without any regard to your face. But if you cut off your nose to spite your face, you’re doing because you’re so mad at it. So which is it?
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Idioms for spite
cut off one's nose to spite one's face. nose (def. 23).
in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite: She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.
Origin of spite
1250–1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite
synonym study for spite
OTHER WORDS FROM spite
spiteless, adjectiveun·spit·ed, adjectiveWords nearby spite
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for spite
spite
/ (spaɪt) /
noun
maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
an instance of such malice; grudge
archaic something that induces vexation
in spite of (preposition) in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding
verb (tr)
to annoy in order to vent spite
archaic to offend
Word Origin for spite
C13: variant of despite
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
Idioms and Phrases with spite
spite
see in spite of.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.