spiteful

adjective

spite·​ful ˈspīt-fəl How to pronounce spiteful (audio)
Synonyms of spitefulnext
: filled with or showing spite : malicious
spitefully adverb
spitefulness noun

Examples of spiteful in a Sentence

the gossip would utter the most vicious things with a spiteful smile
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If not for Camilla, who’d gone out of her way to take Regina in, even letting her share the bedroom with her and Lalla, the others wouldn’t have welcomed her—not out of spite, no, because none of them were spiteful after all, but out of indifference, selfishness, plain and simple. Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026 Glenn Close, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington and Andrew Scott play members of the spiteful holy man’s cult of personality. Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025 Meester holds her cards close to her chest, leaving us to wonder whether Joanne is being spiteful and shallow (given her trajectory … probably) or whether this woman is really that unbearable. Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025 Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia. Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spiteful

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spiteful was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spiteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiteful. Accessed 27 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

spiteful

adjective
spite·​ful ˈspīt-fəl How to pronounce spiteful (audio)
: filled with or showing spite : malicious
spitefully adverb
spitefulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on spiteful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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