spite

American  

[spahyt] / spaɪt /

noun

1. a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.

   Synonyms:

   spleen, venom, rancor, maliciousness, malevolence

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)

spited, spiting

1. to treat with spite or malice.

2. to annoy or thwart, out of spite.

3. to fill with spite; vex; offend.

idioms

1. in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite.

   She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.

2. cut off one's nose to spite one's face. nose.

spite British  

/ spaɪt /

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. (preposition) in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding

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verb

1. to annoy in order to vent spite

2. archaic to offend

spite More Idioms  

1. see in spite of.

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Related Words

See grudge. See notwithstanding.

Other Word Forms

• spiteless adjective
• unspited adjective

Etymology

Origin of spite

1250–1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite

Example Sentences

It was the kind of blunt but ultimately respectful exchange that added to Reiner’s widespread appeal off-screen, both because of — and in spite of — his views.

From Los Angeles Times

"I am disappointed that, in spite of the continued efforts of the commission, Columba's remains have not been located at Bragan Bog, County Monaghan."

From BBC

In spite of FHA loans becoming more widely used, over the last 10 years that she’s been a real-estate agent, “the FHA stigma has always been there,” Michelle Vega told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch

The pictures are perfectly readable in spite of their small size; the selections are retrospective, so readers get bits of each artist’s entire career.

From The Wall Street Journal

In spite of this development, “the parties continue to negotiate the terms of a lease agreement at Project Matador pursuant to the letter of intent,” Fermi wrote in the filing.

From Barron's