spiteful
SPYT-fuhl
/ˈspaɪt.fəl/
Showing or caused by a desire to harm, annoy, or offend someone out of petty ill will.
Focuses on petty, vindictive actions designed to annoy or hurt someone, often harming oneself in the process.
The story behind the word. The word 'spite' shortened in Middle English from 'despite', which came from Old French 'despit' and Latin 'despicere' (to look down upon). A spiteful action is literally born from looking down on someone with contempt.
Word relationships
- petty: Petty means small-minded, while spiteful adds the specific intent to annoy or inflict minor pain.
- vicious: Vicious implies severe violence or cruelty, whereas spiteful is more petty and malicious.
- magnanimous: Magnanimous means generous and forgiving, especially toward a rival.
- kindhearted: Kindhearted implies a gentle, sympathetic, and benevolent nature.
Commonly confused with
- spite: Spite is the noun form; spiteful is the adjective describing behavior or people.
Word family
- spite (noun): A desire to hurt, annoy, or offend.
- spitefully (adverb): In a spiteful manner.
- spitefulness (noun): The quality of being spiteful.
Collocations
- spiteful comment
- spiteful action
- spiteful gossip
Idioms & expressions
- spite your face to bite off your nose
Example sentences
- "She was a spiteful old woman who lived on grievance and small revenges." Victorian novel
- "He deleted all the shared files in a spiteful reaction to losing the argument." Modern anecdote
Memory hook
A SPITEFUL person acts out of SPITE to BITE your ankle. Petty, intentional malice.
When not to use
Avoid using for large-scale, high-stakes military or political atrocities; spite is typically smaller and petty.
Fun facts
- The idiom 'cut off your nose to spite your face' dates back to 12th-century French proverbs!
Related words
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