to spite him

USAGE SUMMARY

"to spite him" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to express the desire to do something specifically to hurt or annoy another person, usually out of revenge. For example: She quit her job even though she loved it, just to spite him.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Almost makes you want to turn to a rerun of "Cheers," just to spite him.

The New Yorker

Herb says it's just to spite him that she won't get married again.

The New Yorker

In part to spite him after the breakup, she did, and met Ms. Mitchell.

The New York Times

If he tells her to hold a spiral for three seconds, she will hold it for 20, to spite him.

The New York Times - Sports

To spite him, after squandering the first years of freedom in euphoria, I began to abstain from drugs and alcohol.

The Guardian - Books

Hickam, angry and confused, enters the mine to help his father but also, almost, to spite him.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Sing, and win to spite them all.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

To spite and thwart him, Sam runs for the Head-of-House position so she can call the shots.

Huffington Post

I'm not saying she dumped him just to spite me, but you have to admit it was a bit of a coincidence.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(Watch him survive just to spite me).

Huffington Post

Blue claimed she told him: "You are only doing it to spite us.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “to spite him” when you want to emphasize that an action is primarily motivated by the desire to annoy, offend, or harm a specific person. Ensure the context clearly indicates this intention.

Common error

Avoid using “to spite him” if the action has a primary motivation other than causing annoyance or harm. If the action has other legitimate motivations, even if spite is a secondary factor, consider rephrasing to reflect the primary intent more accurately.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to spite him" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, indicating the reason or motivation behind an action. It expresses that the action is done with the intent to annoy, offend, or harm a specific individual.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to spite him" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that an action is taken with the primary intention of annoying, offending, or harming a specific person. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous real-world examples from reputable sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. While it can be used in various contexts, it's crucial to ensure that the action genuinely reflects the intention of causing displeasure, rather than having other legitimate motivations. Alternatives such as "to get back at him" or "to take revenge on him" can be used to emphasize retaliation or vindictiveness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to get back at him

Emphasizes retaliation or revenge as the primary motive.

to take revenge on him

Directly indicates a desire to avenge oneself.

to retaliate against him

Focuses on returning a harmful action.

to punish him

Highlights the intention to inflict a penalty for perceived wrongdoing.

to get even with him

Suggests a desire to equalize a past wrong.

to do it out of spite

Generalizes the action, removing the direct object.

to make him suffer

Emphasizes the intention to cause pain or distress.

to give him a taste of his own medicine

Implies reciprocal action, mirroring the target's behavior.

to settle the score with him

Indicates a desire to finalize a past grievance.

to teach him a lesson

Suggests an intention to correct or improve the target's behavior through negative experience.

FAQs

How can I use "to spite him" in a sentence?

You can use "to spite him" to indicate that someone is doing something with the primary intention of annoying or harming a specific person. For example, "She quit her job, even though she loved it, just to spite him".

What are some alternatives to using "to spite him"?

Alternatives include "to get back at him", "to take revenge on him", or "to retaliate against him". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "to spite him"?

Yes, the phrase "to spite him" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express doing something with the intention of annoying or harming someone.

What's the difference between "to spite him" and "in spite of him"?

"To spite him" means doing something with the intention of annoying or harming him, while "in spite of him" means doing something despite his opposition or efforts to prevent it. They have opposite connotations.