spiteful

[spahyt-fuh l] /ˈspaɪt fəl/
adjective
1.
full of spite or malice; showing spite; malicious; malevolent; venomous:
a spiteful child.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English; see spite, -ful
Related forms
spitefully, adverb
spitefulness, noun
unspiteful, adjective
unspitefully, adverb
Synonyms
vengeful, mean, cruel, rancorous. Spiteful, revengeful, vindictive refer to a desire to inflict a wrong or injury on someone, usually in return for one received. Spiteful implies a mean or malicious desire for (often petty) revenge: a spiteful attitude toward a former friend. Revengeful implies a deep, powerful, and continued intent to repay a wrong: a fierce and revengeful spirit. Vindictive does not imply action necessarily, but stresses the unforgiving nature of the avenger: a vindictive look.
Antonyms
benevolent.
Examples from the web for spiteful
  • Any kind of spiteful or negative comment is sure to be magnified and repeated with relish.
  • spiteful motivations and sophisticated social learning skills, however, appear uniquely human.
  • They have received threats of violence, they say, and inspired spiteful decals and bumper stickers.
  • Or they may be spiteful messages intended to tease and confuse.
  • The nurses also equaled him in spiteful outbursts that made it possible to wonder if they, too, were emotionally disordered.
  • Seems rather petty and spiteful for such awe inspiring rational beings.
  • The rest has the effect of a bit of cosmically spiteful chaos in an interior decorator's salon, space, or a cosmetics factory.
  • The audience grew spiteful and ready to throw things.
  • Though he was eliminated last week he survived several eliminations with humorous, sometimes spiteful songs that stung.
  • After ending a relationship don't spread mean or spiteful rumors.
British Dictionary definitions for spiteful

spiteful

/ˈspaɪtfʊl/
adjective
1.
full of or motivated by spite; vindictive
Derived Forms
spitefully, adverb
spitefulness, noun
Word Origin and History for spiteful
adj.

mid-15c., from spite + -ful. Related: Spitefully; spitefulness.