Choose the Right Synonym for spite

Noun

malice, malevolence, ill will, spite, malignity, spleen, grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress. malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer. felt no malice toward their former enemies malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct. a look of dark malevolence ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration. ill will provoked by a careless remark spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments. petty insults inspired by spite malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness. a life consumed by motiveless malignity spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice. venting his spleen against politicians grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction. never one to harbor a grudge

Examples of spite in a Sentence

Noun He is jealous and full of spite. spread cruel lies out of pure spite Verb He only did it to spite me. sometimes, I swear, she keeps doing that just to spite me

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Lawmakers opposing the event gathered Monday to press Suga and his cabinet's decision to move ahead with the games in spite of the growing health fears. — Elizabeth Luhnow, Fox News, 8 June 2021 What the president meant was that, in spite of the challenge that criminality poses in Mexico, Sunday's electoral authorities were able to organize and hold the largest election in the country's history as planned. — Rafael Romo, CNN, 7 June 2021 In spite of the knowledge that he was suspected of fraud, federal officials aid Dunlap continued to bill Medicaid by using the Medicaid provider number issued by the state to an unwitting colleague. — Edmund H. Mahony, courant.com, 5 June 2021 Being a former Los Angeles Dodgers player, Pederson apparently has retained his villain status in Oracle Park, in spite of changing uniforms. — Paul Sullivan, chicagotribune.com, 5 June 2021 That’s because of the Constitution, not in spite of it. — Alexander William Salter, National Review, 4 June 2021 In spite of these minor issues, Verzuz made drab weekends and weeknights feel fun again and has restored a spirit of friendly competition to the game. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 June 2021 In spite of lung cancer’s lethality, data has shown that only a small percentage of patients eligible for lung cancer screening take advantage of the services. — Morris Panner, Forbes, 3 June 2021 In spite of voters’ support for limits, Rayfield expressed skepticism from early in the session about the Legislature’s likelihood to set limits this year and suggested proponents might have to take the issue to voters in a ballot initiative. — oregonlive, 2 June 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In the face of adversity, don’t cut your nose off to spite your face. — Ellevate, Forbes, 24 May 2021 In turning our attention to spite, McCarthy-Jones has identified an important element in the emotional climate of the present. — Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 13 May 2021 That or the old saying about cutting off your nose to spite your face. — Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 14 May 2021 One of her achievements in depicting a radically unequal society was to reclaim spite as a literary weapon. — Charlie Tyson, The Atlantic, 13 May 2021 Brazil has never been a country that could spite the world. — Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2021 This is a classic example of the NFLPA cutting off its nose to spite its face. — BostonGlobe.com, 24 Apr. 2021 Ruiz sparked debates about body shape and convention, winning for the doughy among us to spite the sculpted and chiseled. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2021 Voters — individually and in majorities — are as apt to be wrong about things as right about them, often vote from low motives such as bigotry and spite, and very often are contentedly ignorant. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, 6 Apr. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spite.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.