spite

¹spite

noun \ˈspīt\

Definition of SPITE

1

: petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart

2

: an instance of spite

— in spite of

: in defiance or contempt of : without being prevented by <succeeded in spite of their opposition>

Examples of SPITE

1. He is jealous and full of spite.
2. <spread cruel lies out of pure spite>

Origin of SPITE

Middle English, short for despite

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SPITE

Synonyms: cattiness, despite, hatefulness, malevolence, maliciousness, malignance, malignancy, malignity, meanness, nastiness, malice, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness

Related Words: abusiveness, cruelty; abhorrence, abomination, execration, hate, hatred, loathing; animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, grudge, hostility, ill will, jaundice, mean-spiritedness, rancor, resentment; despicableness, invidiousness; vengefulness, vindictiveness; aversion, disgust, distaste, horror, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion; bitchery, bitchiness, contempt, disdain; jealousy, pique, resentment, scorn; bile, rancor, virulence, vitriol

Near Antonyms: devotion, love, passion; amiability, amicability, amity, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality; adoration, ardor, infatuation, veneration, worship; affection, charity, kindliness, kindness; comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

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See Synonym Discussion at malice

Rhymes with SPITE

bight, bite, blight, bright, byte, cite, dight, dite, fight, flight, fright, height, hight, kite, knight, krait, kyte, light, lite, might, mite, night, plight, quite, right, rite, sight, site, sleight, slight, smite, sprite, tight, trite, white, wight, wite, wright, write