catty

adjective

Definition of cattynext
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it a catty remark that served only to hurt their feelings

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of catty Tortuga’s signature restaurant, Bamboo, sits catty-corner to the pool, and has a dining room with blush pink walls—a color handpicked by Oscar de la Renta. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026 With Daniel being tied to Armand, and the journalist turned documentarian having a catty, antagonistic relationship with Lestat, much of how he was turned and the real reason for why is left a mystery. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 3 June 2026 Yes, remarks those catty modernists made about their host could be less than savory, but Stein wasn’t bothered. — Emily Cox, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026 Long gone are the days of catty rivalries between Tonya and Nancy, Michelle and Tara. — Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for catty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catty
  1. malicious
  2. cruel
  3. vicious
  4. hateful
  5. nasty
  6. bitchy
Adjective
  • Disrupting the servers used to control malware doesn't automatically remove malicious firmware from devices already sitting in people's homes.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Nov. 2026
  • The operation was sophisticated, involving fake job interviews and malicious code.
    — Joel Breakstone, Contributor,Nadav Ziv, Contributor, CNBC, 13 Nov. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • Newsom and other opponents of capital punishment have long argued that the process is costly, cruel and discriminatory, with death sentences disproportionately handed down to defendants of color.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026
  • In a cruel twist of fate, the back half of the trailer shows Geoff being affected by severe confusion, sitting outside his house in the cold.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • For the moment, Trump’s vicious bigotry has alienated most independent voters and even some Republicans.
    — David Yassky, New York Daily News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Outside observers described his vicious consolidation of power as an attempt to compensate for his youth, his limited political experience, and his complete lack of a military background.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • HinduPACT urged Hindus to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or hateful activity to local law enforcement.
    — Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Voters vehemently rebuked, with some important exceptions, Trump’s hateful policymaking, with Democrats taking both the house and the senate.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • Surely, though, it is not lost on the audience that this play opens in the middle of a strikingly nasty political campaign to elect members of the Chicago school board, warring Democrats all.
    — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Someone who hung up on your problem is unlikely to listen to a nasty critique and vow to reform.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of nasty
Adjective
  • While some companies made dramatically bitchy exits from the state in recent years, there are signs that several are itching to get back to the golden coast.
    — Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Who would come correct with a bitchy, sassy, screw-all-y’all response, and who would play it safe with a mild-mannered send-off?
    — Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of bitchy

Browse Nearby Words

cattlemen
catty
caucus
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Cite this Entry

“Catty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catty. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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