spiteful

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'spiteful' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe someone as intentionally being cruel, unkind, or hurtful out of malice or spite. For example, "The spiteful girl taunted her classmates and tried to make them cry".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There is talk of it being damaged and it is no wonder their supporters, as well as the relatives of Mortensen, are wondering if this is a warped game of tit-for-tat, in its most spiteful form, and some fans have decided to meet fire with fire.

The Guardian - Sport

"If you can kill a disbelieving American or European, especially the spiteful and filthy French, or an Australian or a Canadian, or any other disbeliever from the disbelievers waging war, including the citizens of the countries that entered into a coalition against the Islamic State, then rely upon Allah, and kill him in any manner or way, however it may be," he said.

The Guardian

His self-doubt runs so deep that it's made him spiteful and aggressive, or, when the film remembers that he's supposed to be our hero, cloyingly self-pitying.

The Guardian - Film

Although actually we do have a form of royalty: our pop princesses, ie Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Miley Cyrus, et al. To enter this group, one must follow a precise trajectory: 1) Start out in show biz very young; 2) Urged on by your management, prematurely start exuding sexuality; 3) Begin partying in public; 4) Be brought down by a spiteful, suddenly puritanical media; 5) Enter rehab.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We are happy to reject anger and endless conflict, because we don't believe in chaos and disorder … Wretched are those who are vindictive and spiteful," he said in a public sermon.

The Guardian

The British press at its worst is intrusive, sanctimonious and spiteful.

The Economist

British sources say Mr Osborne was just justifying austerity plans and accuse the French of "spiteful" plans to regulate the City of London.The best of times, the worst of timesA change of French president in elections next May would bring no comfort.

The Economist

In short, for Republican competitors to attack him is to risk looking both spiteful and unpatriotic.So what should his rivals do?

The Economist

What is to become of this spiteful, self-destructive, wizened old slob, viewers might ask.

The Economist

In the meantime, demonstrators matched acts the ambassador called spiteful: hacking and slashing at oil paintings of Queen Victoria and Edward VII in the main residence and smashing furniture.

The Economist

On a personal level, too, the spiteful racism that once expressed Sinhalese attitudes to Tamils is said to be less evident.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spiteful" to describe actions motivated by a desire to inflict harm or annoyance, differentiating it from actions that may be unintentionally hurtful.

Common error

Avoid using "spiteful" when "sarcastic" is more appropriate. While both involve negativity, "spiteful" implies a deliberate intent to harm, whereas sarcasm is often a form of wit, albeit sometimes cutting.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "spiteful" primarily functions to describe nouns, typically people, actions, or words, indicating a quality of being filled with or showing spite. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples where "spiteful" modifies nouns to convey malicious intent or behavior.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "spiteful" functions as an adjective that effectively conveys malicious intent or behavior. As verified by Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically sound and very common in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. When using "spiteful", consider the subtle differences between it and similar terms like "vindictive" or "resentful" to precisely capture the intended meaning. Avoid confusing it with "sarcastic", which lacks the deliberate intent to harm. Understanding its connotations and potential misapplications can refine your writing and ensure accuracy in portraying characters or situations. The term shows a frequency that positions it among the most useful words to convey bad intentions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious

A direct synonym, indicating a desire to do evil or cause harm.

vindictive

Suggests a strong desire for revenge.

resentful

Implies a feeling of bitterness and anger as a result of perceived unfair treatment.

rancorous

Characterized by bitterness or resentment.

acrimonious

Typically describes speech or debate filled with anger and resentment.

malevolent

Indicates a wish to do evil to others.

bitter

Expressing or causing sharp pain or resentment.

vengeful

Disposed to seek revenge or exact retribution.

catty

Suggests a malicious, sly, or subtly cruel attitude.

malignant

Describes something evil in nature or effect.

FAQs

How can I use "spiteful" in a sentence?

You can use "spiteful" to describe someone's actions or words when they are motivated by a desire to hurt or annoy. For example, "The "spiteful remark" was intended to undermine her confidence."

What's a less harsh alternative to "spiteful"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "resentful", "bitter", or "malicious" to describe a similar sentiment with varying degrees of intensity. Consider also if "vindictive" is more appropiate.

Is it correct to say someone is acting "spiteful" or "out of spite"?

Both are correct. "Spiteful" is an adjective describing the person's character or behavior, while "out of spite" is an adverbial phrase describing the motivation behind an action. For example, "She made a spiteful comment" versus "She did it out of spite".

What is the difference between "spiteful" and "vindictive"?

"Spiteful" generally describes a desire to annoy or hurt someone, while "vindictive" implies a stronger desire for revenge and retribution. A spiteful act might be a petty insult, whereas a vindictive act seeks to inflict significant harm in return for a perceived wrong.