Spiteful
“Characterized by a desire to harm, annoy, or frustrate others out of petty malice or resentment.”
Synonyms by Register & Formality
Antonyms & Opposites
Nuance Analysis & Word Contrasts
Spiteful implies a specific, often petty, motivation to cause distress or discomfort to another, usually stemming from a personal grudge. Unlike 'malicious,' which can imply a more calculated or grander scale of evil, 'spiteful' often carries a connotation of small-mindedness or immaturity. It is distinct from 'vindictive' in that spiteful acts do not always require a prior injury to justify the retaliation; they can be purely impulsive expressions of dislike.
spiteful vs malicious
Malicious suggests a deep-seated, often calculated intent to cause significant harm, whereas spiteful suggests a petty, impulsive, or reactive desire to annoy or hurt.
spiteful vs vindictive
Vindictive specifically implies a desire for revenge following a perceived wrong, while spiteful can be unprovoked or driven by general bitterness.