spiteful

adjective

ˈspīt-fəl How to pronounce spiteful (audio)
Definition of spitefulnext
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the gossip would utter the most vicious things with a spiteful smile

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 spiteful Trump won his spiteful cases against asylum seekers and Haitian and Syrian immigrants. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026 Everyone has an acid tongue and brims with spiteful resentment. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 27 May 2026 This is an essential part of our checks and balances system to prevent a corrupt president from dragging our nation into costly, dangerous, or spiteful wars. — Jeff Horseman, Oc Register, 5 May 2026 However nasty and spiteful things get between the Butleys and the del Valles, there’s always the sense that a détente may still be possible. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spiteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiteful
  1. malicious
  2. cruel
  3. vicious
  4. hateful
  5. nasty
Adjective
  • Authorities have described the more than two dozen threats as malicious hoaxes, and no actual attacks have been carried out.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Iran has been linked to at least one incident in Israel earlier in the spring, though that breach involved a lot more sophistication and malicious activity.
    — Jenna McLaughlin, NPR, 6 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

Browse Nearby Words

spited
spiteful
spitefully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spiteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiteful. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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