Spiteful

/ˈspaɪtfl/
adjective

Wanting to hurt or upset someone, usually because one feels angry or feels wronged by them.

He was spiteful and said bad things about me to my boss.
Visual representation of "spiteful" - Wanting to hurt or upset someone, usually because one feels angry or feels wronged by them.

Often appears as...

  • spiteful actions
  • spiteful words

Usage tips

Disapproving

adjective

Showing a desire to harm, anger, or defame others, especially out of jealousy or ill will.

His spiteful comments during the meeting were out of line and unprofessional.
Visual representation of "spiteful" - Showing a desire to harm, anger, or defame others, especially out of jealousy or ill will

Often appears as...

  • spiteful comments
  • spiteful attitude

Usage tips

Disapproving

adjective

Wanting to hurt or upset someone, usually because one feels angry or feels wronged by them.

He was spiteful and said bad things about me to my boss.
Visual representation of "spiteful" - Wanting to hurt or upset someone, usually because one feels angry or feels wronged by them.

Often appears as...

  • spiteful actions
  • spiteful words

Usage tips

Disapproving

adjective

Showing a desire to harm, anger, or defame others, especially out of jealousy or ill will.

His spiteful comments during the meeting were out of line and unprofessional.
Visual representation of "spiteful" - Showing a desire to harm, anger, or defame others, especially out of jealousy or ill will

Often appears as...

  • spiteful comments
  • spiteful attitude

Usage tips

Disapproving

Definition 1 of 2
Visual representation of "spiteful"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Negative Reaction

Used to express negative feelings after being wronged or insulted.

Illustration for Negative Reaction
He became spiteful after losing the game, refusing to shake hands.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Emotional Hurt

Often reflects deep emotional pain or grudges held over time.

Illustration for Emotional Hurt
She spread rumors out of spiteful vengeance for the past.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Provoked Reaction

Typically isn't unprovoked; there's often a reason behind it.

Illustration for Provoked Reaction
His spiteful remarks came after the heated argument.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Negative Reaction

Used to express negative feelings after being wronged or insulted.

Illustration for Negative Reaction
He became spiteful after losing the game, refusing to shake hands.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Emotional Hurt

Often reflects deep emotional pain or grudges held over time.

Illustration for Emotional Hurt
She spread rumors out of spiteful vengeance for the past.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Provoked Reaction

Typically isn't unprovoked; there's often a reason behind it.

Illustration for Provoked Reaction
His spiteful remarks came after the heated argument.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Negative Reaction

Used to express negative feelings after being wronged or insulted.

Illustration for Negative Reaction
He became spiteful after losing the game, refusing to shake hands.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Emotional Hurt

Often reflects deep emotional pain or grudges held over time.

Illustration for Emotional Hurt
She spread rumors out of spiteful vengeance for the past.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Provoked Reaction

Typically isn't unprovoked; there's often a reason behind it.

Illustration for Provoked Reaction
His spiteful remarks came after the heated argument.
Visual representation of the word "Spiteful"

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Video examples

Tierney Thys: Swim with...

and then tosses them back and forth. And I'm not exaggerating, it is just -- and sometimes they don't eat them, it's just spiteful. And you know, the locals think it's terrible behavior,

Video examples

Tierney Thys: Swim with...

and then tosses them back and forth. And I'm not exaggerating, it is just -- and sometimes they don't eat them, it's just spiteful. And you know, the locals think it's terrible behavior,

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Mohamed Bamba

American Athlete

You gotta deal with a lot of people, the naysayers... but I've always been the guy who kinda just smiles and laughs at it. I use it as constructive criticism to be honest. Whether they're intentionally trying to be kind of spiteful or not, it's constructive criticism because you can't say there's always truth to it but there's definitely something.
Portrait of Mohamed Bamba

Quote examples

Chris Crutcher

American Novelist

If I have any complaints about my youth... one is that many well-meaning adults lied to me. Not spiteful lies with malicious intent but lies designed to prevent emotional and psychological pain - lies told by the people who cared about me most: my parents, teachers, relatives.
Portrait of Chris Crutcher

Quote examples

Michael Leunig

Australian Cartoonist

I have sometimes done cartoons that are hurtful to people - immature, spiteful stuff. Some are so self-indulgent, and some have just failed. I look back and sometimes cringe. But one regret as I get older is that I haven't been radical and wild enough.
Portrait of Michael Leunig

Quote examples

Andrew Eldritch

English Musician

I'm not sure it pays to do anything remotely public in Britain. It's such a spiteful society. People seem to enjoy making your life hard for the sake of it.
Portrait of Andrew Eldritch

Quote examples

James DeGale

British Boxer

Amateur boxing is like a game but you have to be spiteful as a pro. I've got that spiteful streak. I've always had it - just ask my mum and dad.
Portrait of James DeGale

Quote examples

Jill Scott

American Musician

People is, I think, it's their nature - some people's nature, in a way, to be angry or jealous or just spiteful about somebody else's blessings.
Portrait of Jill Scott

Quote examples

William Regal

English Businessman

There's people that have all these other qualities, but if you've got a spiteful streak, that will take you to realms people have no concept of.
Portrait of William Regal

Quote examples

Toni Duggan

English Athlete

There will have been girls my age who stopped playing because of the spiteful things that were said to them.
Portrait of Toni Duggan

Quote examples

D. H. Lawrence

English Writer

I like to write when I feel spiteful. It is like having a good sneeze.
Portrait of D. H. Lawrence

Quote examples

Karl Pilkington

British Actor

It would be spiteful to put a Jellyfish in a trifle.
Portrait of Karl Pilkington

Quote examples

Mohamed Bamba

American Athlete

You gotta deal with a lot of people, the naysayers... but I've always been the guy who kinda just smiles and laughs at it. I use it as constructive criticism to be honest. Whether they're intentionally trying to be kind of spiteful or not, it's constructive criticism because you can't say there's always truth to it but there's definitely something.
Portrait of Mohamed Bamba

Quote examples

Chris Crutcher

American Novelist

If I have any complaints about my youth... one is that many well-meaning adults lied to me. Not spiteful lies with malicious intent but lies designed to prevent emotional and psychological pain - lies told by the people who cared about me most: my parents, teachers, relatives.
Portrait of Chris Crutcher

Quote examples

Michael Leunig

Australian Cartoonist

I have sometimes done cartoons that are hurtful to people - immature, spiteful stuff. Some are so self-indulgent, and some have just failed. I look back and sometimes cringe. But one regret as I get older is that I haven't been radical and wild enough.
Portrait of Michael Leunig

Quote examples

Andrew Eldritch

English Musician

I'm not sure it pays to do anything remotely public in Britain. It's such a spiteful society. People seem to enjoy making your life hard for the sake of it.
Portrait of Andrew Eldritch

Quote examples

James DeGale

British Boxer

Amateur boxing is like a game but you have to be spiteful as a pro. I've got that spiteful streak. I've always had it - just ask my mum and dad.
Portrait of James DeGale

Quote examples

Jill Scott

American Musician

People is, I think, it's their nature - some people's nature, in a way, to be angry or jealous or just spiteful about somebody else's blessings.
Portrait of Jill Scott

Quote examples

William Regal

English Businessman

There's people that have all these other qualities, but if you've got a spiteful streak, that will take you to realms people have no concept of.
Portrait of William Regal

Quote examples

Toni Duggan

English Athlete

There will have been girls my age who stopped playing because of the spiteful things that were said to them.
Portrait of Toni Duggan

Quote examples

D. H. Lawrence

English Writer

I like to write when I feel spiteful. It is like having a good sneeze.
Portrait of D. H. Lawrence

Quote examples

Karl Pilkington

British Actor

It would be spiteful to put a Jellyfish in a trifle.
Portrait of Karl Pilkington
Example 1 of 10
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