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Meaning of spiteful
Having or showing a desire to hurt or annoy someone, often because you feel they have wronged you in some way.
Etymology of spiteful
The word "spiteful" has its roots in the Old English word "spītan", which means "to spit" or "to despise", and the Old Norse word "spíta", which means "to spit" or "to scorn".
The word "spite" originally meant "a feeling of contempt or ill will" and was later used to describe behavior that was intended to annoy or hurt someone.
The suffix "-ful" was added to the word "spite" to form the adjective "spiteful", which means "full of spite" or "characterized by spite".
Synonyms
Definitions
- Having or showing a desire to hurt or annoy someone, often because you feel they have wronged you in some way.
- Having a strong feeling of resentment or ill will, often accompanied by a desire for revenge.
- Intended to annoy or offend someone, often in a petty or childish way.
Usage Examples
- The spiteful comments made by the losing team's coach after the game were widely criticized by the media.
- She was being spiteful and deliberately tried to ruin the party by telling embarrassing stories about the host.
- The spiteful behavior of the new employee was causing tension in the office and making it difficult for others to work with him.