spite

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable, usually) Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the desire to unjustifiably irritate, annoy, or thwart; a want to disturb or put out another; mild malice
2. (obsolete, uncountable, usually) Vexation; chagrin; mortification.

Verb

1. (transitive) To treat maliciously; to try to hurt or thwart.
2. (obsolete, transitive) To be angry at; to hate.
3. (transitive) To fill with spite; to offend; to vex.

Prep

Notwithstanding; despite.

Synonyms

malice

hatred

grudge

animosity

envy

anger

💢

rancour

spitefulness

enmity

malevolence

jealousy

harm

ill will

ill-will

resentment

evil

rancor

hostility

injury

venom

spleen

stubbornness

offend

nastiness

maliciousness

feud

wound

look upon with hatred

viciousness

evil intention

rage

😡

tease

malignancy

gall

obstinacy

annoy

cattiness

irritate

bruise

injure

bitterness

fury

hurt

acrimony

bitchiness

ill-feeling

pique

deviltry

devilry

bile

Translations

dispetto

rencor

rancore

despecho

έχθρα

kin

dépit

despit

rancune

trots

garez

Bosheit

malizia

πείσμα

Hass

Pronounced as (IPA)

/spaɪt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: spit

Cognate with Dutch: spijt

Cognate with German: Spiet

In summary

From Middle English spit, a shortening of despit (whence despite), from Old French despit, from Latin dēspectum (“looking down on”), from Latin dēspiciō (“to look down, despise”). Compare also Dutch spijt and German Spiet.