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spite

[spahyt]
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noun
  1. a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.
  2. a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
  3. Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.
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verb (used with object), spit·ed, spit·ing.
  1. to treat with spite or malice.
  2. to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
  3. to fill with spite; vex; offend.
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Idioms
  1. cut off one's nose to spite one's face. nose(def 23).
  2. in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite: She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.
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Origin of spite

1250–1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite
Related formsspite·less, adjectiveun·spit·ed, adjective

Synonyms

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1. malevolence, maliciousness, rancor, venom, spleen. See grudge. 8. See notwithstanding.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

maliceresentmentumbragepiquegallhatecontemptmalevolencevenommaliciousnessantipathypeeverevengevengefulnessmalignityvengeancedespitevindictivenessanimosityrancor

Examples from the Web for spite

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • In spite of the wound he seized the musket and forcibly wrested it from our hero.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • "In spite of all that, it may be true enough," returned the lawyer, composedly.

    Brave and Bold

    Horatio Alger

  • I'm afraid of myself, even in spite of our affairs being so bad.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • Percival was being forced to cheerfulness in spite of himself.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • He would take her in spite of that; overpower her; force her to go.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for spite

spite

noun
  1. maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
  2. an instance of such malice; grudge
  3. archaic something that induces vexation
  4. in spite of (preposition) in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding
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verb (tr)
  1. to annoy in order to vent spite
  2. archaic to offend
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Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for spite

n.

c.1300, shortened form of despit "malice" (see despite). Corresponding to Middle Dutch spijt, Middle Low German spyt, Middle Swedish spit. Commonly spelled spight c.1575-1700. The verb is attested from c.1400. Phrase in spite of is recorded from c.1400.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with spite

spite

see in spite of.

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.