noun
spite
A desire to hurt, annoy, or upset someone.
Out of spite, he refuses to return his neighbor's tools.
Etymology
Spite is a shortened form in the despite word family. Contemptuous feeling developed into the wish to hurt or vex its target.
More examples
- She deletes his message out of spite.
- There is no spite in her criticism.
- His spite turns even a small disagreement into an ugly fight.
Forms
spite
spiteful adjective — Wanting to hurt, annoy, or upset others.
Similar words
- malice
- Suggests a stronger intention to cause harm or suffering.
- vindictiveness
- Emphasizes wanting revenge for a real or imagined wrong.