despitefulness
Cruel, petty hostility
Despitefulness is the quality of being spiteful or malicious—a disposition toward causing harm or distress out of ill will.
The word is archaic, appearing mainly in older religious texts: Let all bitterness and wrath and despitefulness be put away from you.
Modern English prefers spite or spitefulness.
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- meannessSpiteful, unkind disposition
- nastinessSpiteful or foul quality
cattiness · viciousness · hatefulness · malignity · venomousness · spleen · rancor · animosity
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- rancorLasting bitter resentment
- acrimonyBitter ill will
- grievanceFormal claim of unfairness
umbrage · indignation · displeasure · pique · chagrin · discontent · disaffection · gall
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- reprisalPunitive action in return
requital · vindictiveness · avenging · tit-for-tat · comeuppance · vendetta · wrath · reciprocation
Hostile dismissive feeling
- disdainScornful disregard
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- loathingIntense, settled disgust
- sneeringExpressing scorn facially
disparagement · condescension · dismissiveness · revulsion · disgust · aversion · antipathy · repugnance
spite
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- meannessSpiteful, unkind disposition
nastiness · cattiness · viciousness · hatefulness · malignity · venomousness · spleen · rancor · animosity · hostility
bitterness
Sharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
grievance · umbrage · indignation · displeasure · pique · chagrin · discontent · disaffection · gall · jaundice
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- retributionPunishment for wrongdoing
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
reprisal · requital · vindictiveness · avenging · tit-for-tat · comeuppance · vendetta · wrath · reciprocation · counterblow
scorn
Hostile dismissive feeling
sneering · disparagement · condescension · dismissiveness · revulsion · disgust · aversion · antipathy · repugnance · contemptuousness
despitefulnessbenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
kindness · goodwill · kindliness · graciousness · charitableness