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Spiteful Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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spiteful

[ˈspaɪtfəl ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

Showing or caused by malice; malicious; malevolent.

Synonyms

malevolent, malicious, vindictive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
spiteful

Used to describe actions or words that are meant to intentionally harm or upset someone, often out of petty resentment.

  • Her spiteful comments during the meeting were uncalled for.
  • He made a spiteful remark about her new haircut.
malicious

Describes actions, words, or behavior meant to cause harm or pain deliberately, often with a sense of enjoyment derived from it. It can describe actions that are both subtle and overt.

  • She spread malicious rumors about her coworkers.
  • His malicious intent was clear when he sabotaged the project.
malevolent

Refers to having a desire to cause harm or evil to others, often suggesting a deeper or more serious intent.

  • The villain's malevolent plan was to destroy the entire city.
  • There was a malevolent glint in his eyes.
vindictive

Indicates a strong desire for revenge, often resulting in actions that are hurtful or cruel, driven by a wish to punish someone.

  • After the argument, she became vindictive and tried to get him fired.
  • His vindictive nature made him a dangerous enemy.

Examples of usage

  • He gave her a spiteful look.
  • Their spiteful comments hurt her feelings.
Context #2 | Adjective

actions

Intended to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.

Synonyms

hurtful, malicious, vindictive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
spiteful

This word is used when someone intentionally wants to cause pain or discomfort to others, often out of bitterness or ill-will.

  • She made a spiteful comment about his appearance
  • His spiteful behavior alienated his friends
hurtful

This term is appropriate when describing actions or words that cause emotional pain or distress, but without necessarily implying a deliberate intent to harm.

  • Her hurtful words made him cry
  • The criticism was particularly hurtful because it came from someone she trusted
malicious

Use this word when describing actions meant to cause harm, driven by malice. It often implies a deeper, more sinister intent than 'spiteful'.

  • The hacker's malicious actions caused a company-wide shutdown
  • Spreading malicious rumors can destroy someone's reputation
vindictive

This word describes a strong desire for revenge. Someone who is vindictive tends to act harshly or unfairly out of a desire to retaliate.

  • After the breakup, he became vindictive and tried to ruin her career
  • Her vindictive nature made her hold grudges for years

Examples of usage

  • She made a spiteful remark about his appearance.
  • The decision seemed like a spiteful act.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Spiteful behavior is often linked to feelings of jealousy or anger.
  • Research shows that spiteful actions can sometimes provide a temporary feeling of power or satisfaction for the person acting spitefully.

Literature

  • Spiteful characters appear frequently in classic literature, often driving conflicts and adding drama to the storyline.
  • In Shakespeare's works, the theme of spite is explored in various forms, reflecting the darker sides of human nature.

Pop Culture

  • Many movies feature spiteful antagonists whose actions are driven by revenge or jealousy, adding tension to the plot.
  • Social media can amplify spiteful behavior as people feel emboldened to express negativity towards others online.

Cultural Perspectives

  • In some cultures, spiteful behavior is seen as a sign of immaturity or inability to cope with negative emotions.
  • Conversely, some folk tales celebrate clever acts of spite as a form of justice or retribution against wrongdoing.

Origin of 'spiteful'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'spite' comes from the Old French word 'despit,' which means 'contempt' or 'disdain'.
  • It is related to the Latin word 'despectus', which means 'a looking down upon'.

The word 'spiteful' originated from the Middle English word 'spitful', which meant 'full of spite or malice'. It is derived from the Old English word 'spīt', meaning 'spite'. The concept of spitefulness has been observed in human behavior throughout history, often in the form of revenge or intentional harm towards others.

See also: despite, spitefully, spitefulness.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,287, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.