🇫🇷French Source WordCode: FR

malveillance

Pronunciation / Transliteration: malvɛjɑ̃s

🇬🇧 Direct English Meaning:
Spitefulness/ˈspaɪt.fəl.nəs/
nounCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #28500 frequency
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🇫🇷 Example Sentence in French:

"Sa malveillance était évidente dans tous ses commentaires."

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    The quality of being disposed to show petty ill will or a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.

    "Her actions were driven by sheer spitefulness rather than any logical grievance."
  2. 2

    A malicious act or remark intended to cause petty harm.

    "He brushed off the small spitefulnesses of his colleagues with a calm smile."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Middle English word 'spitous', a shortening of 'despitous' meaning contemptuous, which comes from the Old French 'despit' (contempt, malice). The suffix '-ful' and noun-forming suffix '-ness' were later added to form the modern quality denoting a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.

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