The meaning of SPITE is petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart. How to use spite in a sentence. Synonym Discussion of Spite.

Idiom in spite of something (Definition of spite from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Spite or spitefulness refers to action derived from, or a tendency to engage in malevolence. Spitefulness is a general personality trait which refers to the capacity and desire to harm others, specifically due …

SPITE definition: a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice. See examples of spite used in a sentence.

in spite of oneself, in disregard of one's best efforts not to do something; unwillingly: Even though I was angry at them, I had to smile at their silliness in spite of myself.

1. annoy, hurt, injure, harm, provoke, offend, needle (informal), put out, gall, nettle, vex, pique, discomfit, put someone's nose out of joint (informal) He was giving his art collection away for nothing, to spite …

Oct 31, 2025 · spite (third-person singular simple present spites, present participle spiting, simple past and past participle spited) (transitive) To treat maliciously; to try to hurt or thwart.

There are 19 meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun spite, eight of which are labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

If you do something cruel to spite someone, you do it in order to hurt or upset them. You don't want to come because you want to spite me in front of my neighbours. [VERB noun]

Some common synonyms of spite are grudge, ill will, malevolence, malice, malignity, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," spite implies …