spiteful

adjective

ˈspīt-fəl How to pronounce spiteful (audio)
Definition of spitefulnext
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the gossip would utter the most vicious things with a spiteful smile

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spiteful But again and again throughout Thursday's hearing, the fraying of bonds between Kennedy and his former party was on full display as spiteful comments were passed back and forth. — CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 But again and again throughout Thursday’s hearing, the fraying of bonds between Kennedy and his former party was on full display as spiteful comments were passed back and forth. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Phil, a spiteful rancher who torments his brother's (Jesse Plemons) new wife (Kirsten Dunst) and her sensitive teenage son, Peter (Kodi Smit-McPhee), against the backdrop of 1920s Montana. — Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Apr. 2026 That the spiteful man sees only as far as the spiteful man can, and that can produce a work of art that is successful, but maybe not ultimately great. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spiteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiteful
  1. malicious
  2. cruel
  3. vicious
  4. hateful
  5. nasty
Adjective
  • Strong antivirus software can help warn you about malicious downloads or suspicious websites.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Radha had always believed that the world was evil and people malicious.
    — Akhil Sharma, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • Having Sheridan actually be a cruel person was one of the key audience expectations the writer-director hoped to flip in the pursuit of laughs.
    — William Earl, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But Triage does have a moment in which an ember of the old cruel optimism flickers.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • Your husband merely identified the obvious, most vicious enemy of the people in straightforward terms.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Democrats have little trouble understanding that the right-wing infighting over Carlson is about whether the Republican tent, which already includes racists, nativists, and vicious Islamophobes, is also big enough to include anti-Semites.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • Yiannopoulos’ acerbic and at times hateful speech attracted the fury of students who argued his views should not be platformed.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Grabs a ketchup bottle and garnishes his face, before squirting mustard into his hateful, piggish eyes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • Fatu hit a nasty flying Samoan Spike on D’Angelo and pinned him.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Unglazed Ceramic And Stoneware A beautiful stoneware or ceramic dish can leave nasty scratches on your stovetop’s surface.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

spited
spiteful
spitefully
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spiteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiteful. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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