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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
cut down their neighbors' tree out of sheer spitefulness
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
In the book, Benedict falls for Sophie Beckett, the daughter of an earl who’s been hidden away from the Ton and forced to work as a housemaid by her spiteful stepmother.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
But what does our contemporary obsession — both spiteful and fawning — with Brutalism say about our wants and needs as a society at this moment?
—Anna Kodé, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiteful
Adjective
But there’s a qualitative difference with a spiteful, foul-mouthed, score-settling president leading by acrid example.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2025
In the book, Benedict falls for Sophie Beckett, the daughter of an earl who’s been hidden away from the Ton and forced to work as a housemaid by her spiteful stepmother.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 14 Feb. 2025
But what does our contemporary obsession — both spiteful and fawning — with Brutalism say about our wants and needs as a society at this moment?
—Anna Kodé, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.
—Winston Cho, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spiteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiteful
Adjective
-
Accessing the code prompts recipients to provide personal and financial information, or can lead to downloading malicious software.—
Laura Daniella Sepulveda,
AZCentral.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Victims are then defrauded again, with more money lost to these malicious recovery schemes.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Actual malice means a reporter or press outlet knew their story was false or else acted with reckless disregard for the truth.—
Stephanie A,
The Conversation,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Betrayal beyond one’s control may involve situations like forgetting an important date due to stress or feeling overwhelmed, hurting others’ feelings unintentionally by making careless comments or blunders made out of misunderstanding rather than malice.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
That is a particularly egregious example of how the Trump Administration has been gratuitously cruel to the Sudanese.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Stacy, Tim’s wife, also died of pancreatic cancer five months later in February of 2024, a cruel hand for a family that for years had gone above and beyond in their efforts to raise money and awareness for cancer research.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
3 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Common in deserts across central and southern Arizona and known for its docile nature, its venom is mild, comparable to a bee sting, and bites are rare.—
Tiffany Acosta,
AZCentral.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Do not attempt to suck out venom: This is not effective and can cause further damage to the wound.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American Statesman,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
Feeling profoundly betrayed and abandoned by David, Rebecca’s loyalty lies with the vicious and conniving Juno, the only family she’s known for the last decade.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Nothing could possibly go wrong with all the vicious alien specimens on board, right?—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The Republican Party has nothing positive to say about any person, place or thing that Trump disparages in his rants of hatred.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Aug. 2025
-
However, Kelly’s hatred towards Beyoncé is well-documented and the singer’s fans have noticed.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
The nonprofit’s promotional ads were on social media including Facebook, where it was met with some explicitly hateful comments aimed at the LGBTQ community, Carolina Theatre spokesman Jared Misner said.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Klum and Kaulitz, who tied the knot in 2019, have been on the receiving end of hateful remarks due to their 17-year age gap.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The driver was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on suspicion of DUI and two counts of willful cruelty to a child.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Aug. 2025
-
Norwalk police on April 22 arrested her on one count of animal cruelty, records show.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spiteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiteful. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share