spite

[ spahyt ]

noun

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

   Synonyms: maliciousness, spleen, venom, rancor, malevolence

2. a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
3. Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.

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.

spite

/ 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. in spite of
   preposition in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding

verb

1. to annoy in order to vent spite
2. archaic.
   to offend

Other Words From

• spiteless adjective
• un·spited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spite¹

1250–1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite

Word History and Origins

Origin of spite¹

C13: variant of despite

Idioms and Phrases

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 ( def 23 ).

More idioms and phrases containing spite

see in spite of .

Synonym Study

See grudge. See notwithstanding.

Example Sentences

“In spite of the homes that were lost there, there’s a measure of success in avoiding loss of human life,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

He said that he still believes in America in spite of Trump's victory.

From Salon

He encouraged voters to head to the polls in spite of his own opposition to their handling of Israel's War in Gaza.

From Salon

But he said he wouldn’t mind if Harris were elected president, in spite of any traffic increases that might bring to the neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times

As my dear mother used to say, that’s like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

From Los Angeles Times