malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.
felt no malice toward their former enemies
malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.
a look of dark malevolence
ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.
ill will provoked by a careless remark
spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.
petty insults inspired by spite
malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.
a life consumed by motiveless malignity
spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.
venting his spleen against politicians
grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.
never one to harbor a grudge
Example Sentences
Noun He is jealous and full of spite. spread cruel lies out of pure spiteVerb He only did it to spite me. sometimes, I swear, she keeps doing that just to spite me
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But in spite of the world's turbulence, Cole's music communicated grace, elegance and congeniality. Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 12 Sep. 2022 Joe Berchtold, Live Nation Entertainment’s president and chief financial officer, maintained that, so far, 2022 has been a banner year for its SoCal and U.S. festival market in spite of inflation, with attendance up 50% over 2019.Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2022 That’s in spite of (or because of) the huge surplus of options available. John Jurgensen, WSJ, 10 Sep. 2022 In spite of tensions between China and the U.K., Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent a message of condolences to British King Charles III, stressing the importance of China-Britain relations, according to the Chinese press agency Xinhua. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 9 Sep. 2022 The point of this album to me is not to bring people down with the grief, which is there and very real and valid, but to help lift them up and give them strength in spite of it. Ben Trivett, Peoplemag, 8 Sep. 2022 Parker is insistent on what happened next, in spite of debated history warped by controversial court testimonies and liberties taken by journalists who never bothered to interview him. Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2022 All of this improvement was going on in spite of the fact that it could be obliterated in an instant. George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Sep. 2022 Like the mafia itself, Pupetta succeeded not in spite of Italy’s good side, but in many ways, because of it. Barbie Nadeau, Rolling Stone, 6 Sep. 2022
Verb
As with so many Fox projects, there’s the sense that the folks in charge just want it in their rearview mirror and don’t care if thy cut off their nose to spite their mouse-eared face. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2022 To spite him, Julianna launched her fundraiser on Monday. Ariana Garcia, Chron, 29 July 2022 But this would be the equivalent of the GOP cutting off its nose to spite its face. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 29 July 2022 Ideas just wacky enough to work have been a hallmark of brand since Ferruccio Lamborghini formed the company in 1963 to spite Enzo Ferrari, and all signs point to that trend continuing. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 28 July 2022 The Falcons have reason to want to spite Watson, though perhaps not enough talent. Jori Epstein, USA TODAY, 13 May 2022 Nothing gets Larry out of bed faster than a chance to spite someone: like opening up his own coffee shop next to the one that 86’d him. Mike Postalakis, SPIN, 9 June 2022 But, long term, Fisher's epic takedown might equate to cutting off his nose to spite his face. Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 25 May 2022 In her 2017 lawsuit, Chyna said her reality show with her ex was already underway on a second season, but claimed the family intentionally put an axe to the series to spite her. Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety, 19 Apr. 2022 See More