DESPITEFUL Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

despiteful

adjective

di-ˈspīt-fəl

Definition of despiteful

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it despiteful treatment of his poor relations during their visit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for despiteful

Adjective

After engaging with the box, the user sees a line of text, often obscured in a way to mask any malicious commands.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
The rap star has a malicious prosecution case pending against the lawyer in federal court in New York.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

Like her, Americans are also so tired of being screwed by an administration that’s not only grossly incompetent and cruel but corrupt as well.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026
Rather than heroic, these costly and horribly uncertain stunts come across callous and cruel.

— Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

These shortages increase costs and a vicious cycle for folks who need a rung.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Sep. 2026
Nobody comes off well; if anything, the snooty German Jews almost seem more vicious than the right-wing plotters, who are presented as mercenary and power-hungry rather than ideological.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Mercury guard Kahleah Copper, Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams and Chicago Sky guard Natasha Cloud have also spoken about receiving hateful messages.

— Mike Wilson, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Yiannopoulos’ acerbic and at times hateful speech attracted the fury of students who argued his views should not be platformed.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of hateful

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.

Browse Nearby Words

despite

despiteful

despitefully

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Despiteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/despiteful. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of despiteful

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

quorum

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes