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Meaning & use

spiteful

adjective·Academicdisapproving

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UK/ˈspaɪtfl/
US/ˈspaɪtfl/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meaning

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Wanting to hurt or upset someone, often as payback for a small offense or from jealousy.

    Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a spiteful remark; she was spiteful.

    Patterns

    • spiteful toward someone
    • a spiteful thing to do

    It was spiteful of him to hide her keys.

    She sent a spiteful message after losing the contest.

    Their spiteful gossip hurt the new girl.

Word forms

comparativemore spiteful
superlativemost spiteful

Common combinations

spiteful remark
She made a spiteful remark about his shoes.
spiteful comment
Ignore his spiteful comments.
spiteful act
Breaking her phone was a spiteful act.
spiteful rumor
A spiteful rumor spread through the office.
out of spiteful jealousy
He lied out of spiteful jealousy.

Synonyms and how they differ

malicious
Malicious is stronger and suggests a real wish to do harm.
vindictive
Vindictive focuses on seeking revenge for a perceived wrong.
petty
Petty stresses small-mindedness over small things, with less intention to hurt.
nasty
Nasty is an everyday word for unpleasant behavior without the motive of spite.

Opposites

kindgenerousforgiving

Word family

spite noun
a wish to hurt someone
spitefully adverb
in a hurtful way
spitefulness noun
the quality of being spiteful
despite preposition
without being affected by something

Commonly confused: spiteful or despiteful?

spiteful vs despiteful

Despiteful is an old word and not the standard form; use spiteful instead.

Practice

Which sentence describes a spiteful act?

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