spiteful

[ spahyt-fuhl ]
/ ˈspaɪt fəl /

adjective

full of spite or malice; showing spite; malicious; malevolent; venomous: a spiteful child.

Origin of spiteful

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50; see origin at spite, -ful

SYNONYMS FOR spiteful

vengeful, mean, cruel, rancorous. Spiteful, revengeful, vindictive refer to a desire to inflict a wrong or injury on someone, usually in return for one received. Spiteful implies a mean or malicious desire for (often petty) revenge: a spiteful attitude toward a former friend. Revengeful implies a deep, powerful, and continued intent to repay a wrong: a fierce and revengeful spirit. Vindictive does not imply action necessarily, but stresses the unforgiving nature of the avenger: a vindictive look.

OTHER WORDS FROM spiteful

spite·ful·ly, adverb spite·ful·ness, noun un·spite·ful, adjective un·spite·ful·ly, adverb

Example sentences from the Web for spitefulness

British Dictionary definitions for spitefulness

spiteful
/ (ˈspaɪtfʊl) /

adjective

full of or motivated by spite; vindictive

Derived forms of spiteful

spitefully, adverb spitefulness, noun