spite

[ spahyt ]
/ spaɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR spite ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.
a particular instance of such an attitude or action; grudge.
Obsolete. something that causes vexation; annoyance.

verb (used with object), spit·ed, spit·ing.

to treat with spite or malice.
to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
to fill with spite; vex; offend.

Idioms for spite

    cut off one's nose to spite one's face. nose(def 23).
    in spite of, in disregard or defiance of; notwithstanding; despite: She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.

Origin of spite

1250–1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite

OTHER WORDS FROM spite

spite·less, adjective un·spit·ed, adjective

Words nearby spite

spit-shine, spital, spitball, spitballer, spitchcock, spite, spite fence, spiteful, spitfire, spithead, spitsbergen

Words related to in spite of

indeed, much, despite, disregarding, notwithstanding, yet, nonetheless, withal, nevertheless, anyhow, but, though, howbeit, albeit, still, supposing, when, whereas, while, admitting

British Dictionary definitions for in spite of

spite
/ (spaɪt) /

noun

maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
an instance of such malice; grudge
archaic something that induces vexation
in spite of (preposition) in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding

verb (tr)

to annoy in order to vent spite
archaic to offend

Word Origin for spite

C13: variant of despite

Idioms and Phrases with in spite of (1 of 2)

in spite of

Regardless of, in defiance of, as in They kept on in spite of their fears. [c. 1400]

Idioms and Phrases with in spite of (2 of 2)

spite

see in spite of.