catty

¹cat·ty

noun \ˈka-tē\

plural catties

Definition of CATTY

: any of various units of weight of China and southeast Asia varying around 1¹⁄₃ pounds (about 600 grams); also : a standard Chinese unit equal to 1.1023 pounds (500 grams)

Origin of CATTY

Malay kati

First Known Use: 1598

Rhymes with CATTY

batty, chatty, fatty, natty, patty, platy, ratty, scatty, tattie, tatty

²catty

adjective

cat·ti·ercat·ti·est

Definition of CATTY

1

: resembling a cat; especially : slyly spiteful : malicious <made several catty comments>

2

: of or relating to a cat

— cat·ti·ly \ˈka-tə-lē\ adverb

— cat·ti·ness \ˈka-tē-nəs\ noun

Examples of CATTY

1. <a catty remark that served its only purpose: to make someone cry>

First Known Use of CATTY

1886

Related to CATTY

Synonyms

bad [slang], bitchy, hateful, cruel, despiteful, malevolent, malicious, malign, malignant, mean, nasty, spiteful, vicious, virulent

Antonyms

benevolent, benign, benignant, loving, unmalicious

Related Words

devious, scoundrelly, scurvy, snakelike; acrimonious, bitter, envious, jaundiced, jealous, rancorous, resentful, vindictive, vitriolic; contemptuous, deprecating, derogatory, disdainful, disparaging, mean-spirited, obnoxious, opprobrious, scornful, snide, snotty, unkind, unkindly, unloving; baleful, baneful, evil; harsh, hostile, inimical; acrid, caustic, poisonous, scathing, venomous

Near Antonyms

compassionate, good, good-hearted, kind, kindhearted, kindly, sympathetic, warm, warmhearted; affable, agreeable, amiable, cordial, friendly, genial, gracious, nice, pleasant; affectionate, amorous, sweet, tender, tenderhearted; humane; altruistic, high-minded, humanitarian, magnanimous, noble, philanthropic (also philanthropical)

Rhymes with CATTY

fatty