Synonyms of spite

spite 1 of 2

noun

ˈspīt 

as in malice

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm

spread cruel lies out of pure spite

Synonyms & Similar Words

• malice
• venom
• hatred
• cruelty
• despite
• meanness
• hostility
• hatefulness
• spitefulness
• malignity
• contempt
• malevolence
• jealousy
• disgust
• maliciousness
• malignancy
• bitterness
• spleen
• viciousness
• hate
• nastiness
• disdain
• malignance
• resentment
• cattiness
• animosity
• antagonism
• enmity
• distaste
• rancor
• loathing
• abhorrence
• vindictiveness
• antipathy
• grudge
• jaundice
• abusiveness
• revulsion
• abomination
• repugnance
• scorn
• horror
• repulsion
• ill will
• aversion
• vengefulness
• execration
• mean-spiritedness
• bile
• invidiousness
• virulence
• pique
• despicableness
• vitriol
• bitchiness
• bitchery

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

spite

2 of 2

verb

as in to annoy

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

sometimes, I swear, she keeps doing that just to spite me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoy
• bother
• irritate
• bug
• persecute
• aggravate
• anger
• get
• exasperate
• worry
• infuriate
• get to
• irk
• grate
• eat
• gripe
• put out
• frost
• vex
• wear on
• pique
• gall
• rile
• burn (up)
• chafe
• plague
• itch
• hack (off)
• insult
• ruffle
• provoke
• tease
• rasp
• nark
• peeve
• nettle
• stick in one's craw
• rub the wrong way
• get one's goat
• set one's teeth on edge
• upset
• outrage
• offend
• get on one's nerves
• enrage
• rouse
• harass
• nag
• devil
• hassle
• enflame
• distress
• discomfort
• inflame
• antagonize
• heckle
• affront
• pester
• badger
• disquiet
• exercise
• harry
• rankle
• agitate
• unsettle
• bait
• perturb
• discompose
• undo
• hagride
• ballyrag
• fret
• incense
• unhinge
• roil
• bullyrag
• madden
• freak (out)
• miff

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appease
• placate
• satisfy
• conciliate
• pacify
• oblige
• please
• delight
• gratify
• mollify
• assure
• propitiate
• comfort
• cheer
• content
• reassure
• quiet
• console
• soothe
• gladden
• solace

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun spite differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of spite are grudge, ill will, malevolence, malice, malignity, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

In what contexts can grudge take the place of spite?

While in some cases nearly identical to spite, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is ill will a more appropriate choice than spite?

The synonyms ill will and spite are sometimes interchangeable, but ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

When would malevolence be a good substitute for spite?

Although the words malevolence and spite have much in common, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

When might malice be a better fit than spite?

In some situations, the words malice and spite are roughly equivalent. However, malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When could malignity be used to replace spite?

The words malignity and spite are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Where would spleen be a reasonable alternative to spite?

The meanings of spleen and spite largely overlap; however, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spite

Noun

In spite of Husseini’s role in leading a pogrom in Jerusalem in 1920, British authorities made Husseini the grand mufti of Jerusalem, the leading Muslim cleric in the land. —Sean Durns, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025

My husband, a hardworking scientist, was a man transformed in spite of his skepticism. —Amanda Eyre Ward, Travel + Leisure, 12 Sep. 2025

Verb

Joyce, who had been dead for 18 years, vividly inhabited its chapters, getting drunk, going blind, spending money, spiting enemies, cogitating, and, of course, creating a series of works that immediately made literary history. —Eric Bulson, The Atlantic, 16 June 2025

Talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face! —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 5 June 2025

Phrases Containing spite

• in spite of