spiteful

[ spahyt-fuhl ]

adjective

1. full of spite or malice; showing spite; malicious; malevolent; venomous:

   a spiteful child.

   Synonyms: rancorous, cruel, mean, vengeful

   Antonyms: benevolent

ˈspiteful

/ ˈspaɪtfʊl /

adjective

1. full of or motivated by spite; vindictive

Derived Forms

• ˈspitefully, adverb
• ˈspitefulness, noun

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of spiteful¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

He spent years sowing doubts and corroding faith in our judicial and political systems, spraying insults like a spiteful crop-duster.

From Los Angeles Times

He's a spiteful misogynist, and banning abortion nationwide will simply feel like his "revenge" on women who rejected his "protection."

From Salon

Has he allowed himself to imagine going up for one of the ceremony’s big prizes with “Not Like Us” — almost certainly the most spiteful record ever to be in the hunt for a major Grammy?

From Los Angeles Times

Is it, perhaps, because Alito and Thomas’ treasonous conduct, demonstrated corruption, spiteful rulings and contempt for long-established precedent scream partiality from a bullhorn?

From Salon

The feverish “Tortured Poets Department” is a full-throated return to her specialty: autobiographical and sometimes spiteful tales of heartbreak, full of detailed, referential lyrics that her fans will delight in decoding.

From New York Times

Related Words

• barbed
• catty
• cruel
• hateful
• malicious
• ornery
• snide
• venomous
• vicious
• vindictive