despiteful
Full of spite
Despiteful means full of spite or malice—deliberately cruel or vindictive.
The word is archaic, appearing mainly in older literature and biblical translations: Love your enemies, do good to them which despitefully use you.
Modern English prefers spiteful or malicious.
Harboring ill will
- maliciousMeaning to do harm
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
- nastyDeeply unpleasant or spiteful
mean-spirited · wicked · venomous · hateful · ill-intentioned · hurtful · malignant · pernicious
Bitterly antagonistic in tone
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
- rancorousMarked by bitter resentment
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
cutting · acerbic · sour · harsh · biting · stinging · sharp-tongued · vitriolic
Wanting to harm back
- retaliatoryDone as payback
- revengefulDesiring to inflict harm back
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
- implacableIncapable of being pacified
rancorous · grudging · retributive · punitive · merciless · pitiless · wrathful · avenging
Actively opposed or hostile
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- inimicalHarmful or hostile
menacing · threatening · truculent · pugnacious · quarrelsome · confrontational · defiant · fierce
malevolent
Harboring ill will
nasty · mean-spirited · wicked · venomous · hateful · ill-intentioned · hurtful · malignant · pernicious · toxic
acrimonious
Bitterly antagonistic in tone
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
- rancorousMarked by bitter resentment
- causticChemically burning; bitterly mocking
scathing · cutting · acerbic · sour · harsh · biting · stinging · sharp-tongued · vitriolic · sardonic
vengeful
Wanting to harm back
- retaliatoryDone as payback
- revengefulDesiring to inflict harm back
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
implacable · rancorous · grudging · retributive · punitive · merciless · pitiless · wrathful · avenging · payback
antagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
inimical · menacing · threatening · truculent · pugnacious · quarrelsome · confrontational · defiant · fierce · warlike
despitefulbenevolent
Desiring others' welfare
kindhearted · loving · kind · warmhearted · benign