VocabDictionary

spiteful

/หˆspaษชt.fษ™l/intermediate Level

English Meaning & Definitions

1.adjective

Showing or caused by malice; eager to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.

Example Sentences:
  • โ€œShe made a spiteful remark about his new haircut.โ€
  • โ€œThe neighbors engaged in a spiteful war of property damage.โ€
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English Synonyms & Near Equivalents

English Antonyms & Opposites

Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown

Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for โ€œspitefulโ€.

Thesaurus Entry
Cultural Origin & Etymology

Derived from the noun 'spite' (a shortened form of 'despite', originating from Old French 'despit', from Latin 'despectus', meaning contempt or disdain), combined with the Old English suffix '-full', meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by'.

Memory Aid & Mnemonic

Think of someone who bites you out of spiteโ€”a 'bite-ful' person is a spiteful person.

Frequently Asked Questions About โ€œspitefulโ€

1. What is the meaning of โ€œspitefulโ€ in English?

In English, spiteful (adjective) is defined as: โ€œShowing or caused by malice; eager to hurt, annoy, or offend someone.โ€.

2. How do you use โ€œspitefulโ€ in a sentence?

โ€œShe made a spiteful remark about his new haircut.โ€

3. What are English synonyms of โ€œspitefulโ€?

Common synonyms include:malicious,vindictive,malevolent,petty

4. What is the etymology and word origin of โ€œspitefulโ€?

Derived from the noun 'spite' (a shortened form of 'despite', originating from Old French 'despit', from Latin 'despectus', meaning contempt or disdain), combined with the Old English suffix '-full', meaning 'full of' or 'characterized by'.