cattiness
Spiteful female gossip
Cattiness is spiteful or malicious behavior, especially snide remarks or subtle cruelty directed at others.
The word evokes the hissing, scratching hostility of an agitated cat: The cattiness among the bridesmaids was exhausting.
Though anyone can be catty, the term is most often applied to women, carrying sexist undertones.
Petty malicious intent
- venomInjected animal poison
- meannessSpiteful, unkind disposition
- nastinessSpiteful or foul quality
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
viciousness · ill-will · hostility · animosity · backstabbing · backbiting · poisonous · toxic
Informal talk spreading rumors
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- envyResentful longing for another's
- cliqueyTending toward exclusive groups
- small-mindedLacking breadth of thought
petty · trivial · bickering · snide · nitpicking · squabbling · childish · immature
spite
Petty malicious intent
cruelty · viciousness · ill-will · hostility · animosity · backstabbing · backbiting · poisonous · toxic · hurtful
gossip
Informal talk spreading rumors
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- envyResentful longing for another's
- cliqueyTending toward exclusive groups
small-minded · petty · trivial · bickering · snide · nitpicking · squabbling · childish · immature · passive-aggressive
sarcasm
Irony used to mock
- sardonicGrimly mocking
- acerbicSharp and biting
- sharp-tonguedGiven to cutting remarks
biting · cutting remarks · quip · jibe · barb · zinger · sneer · mockery · derision · withering
- petty behaviorsspite, malice, meanness, nastiness, bitterness
- snarksarcasm, snark, jab, barb, dig
- cat traitssilky coat, coat, tabby pattern, claws, long-haired
- provocationbaiting, goading, taunting, incitement, instigation
- rudenessrude, discourtesy, impolite, rudeness, disrespect
- squabblesspat, tiff, quarrel, bickering, squabble
cattinesskindness
Considerate, caring disposition
graciousness · warmth · sweetness · geniality · cordiality
cattinessbluntness
Frank, unvarnished manner
directness · forthrightness · candor · straight talk · confrontation