spite

SPYT/spaɪt/

Verbspites, spiting, spited

6 meanings of spite

1
noununcountable
A mean wish to annoy or upset someone, often for no good reason.
Like being mean to someone just because you want to upset them.
She broke the little toy out of pure spite.
He hid the keys from spite, just to make her late.
Similargrudge, rancor
Oppositegoodwill, kindness, benevolence
Note
2
verbtransitive
To act in a mean way toward someone in order to hurt or upset them.
Like doing something on purpose just to upset another person.
He sold the house cheaply just to spite his greedy brother.
She wore the bright dress to spite the people who told her not to.
Similarannoy, hurt, upset, thwart
Oppositeplease
3
verbtransitive
To annoy or upset someone, leaving them hurt or angry.
Like saying something mean that leaves a person hurt and angry.
Their constant teasing spited him until he finally snapped.
Comments like that spite people and make them feel small.
Similaroffend, vex, annoy, irk, hurt
Oppositeplease, delight
Note

Less common meanings

4
prepositionarchaic
An old way of saying despite. It shows that something happens even though a problem is in the way.
Note
5
nounobsoleteuncountable
A feeling of being upset, embarrassed, or annoyed.
"The time is out of joint: O cursed spite."
c. 1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”Here, spite means bitter annoyance or frustration.
Note
6
verbobsoletetransitive
To hate someone or feel very angry at them.
Note

Use it in a sentence

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Origin

It comes from an old French word despit, which came from Latin words meaning "to look down on" or "despise."