spiteful
Mean with intent
Spiteful describes actions or attitudes driven by a desire to hurt, annoy, or frustrate someone—often over petty grievances.
A spiteful remark aims to wound.
A spiteful act serves no purpose except causing distress: She deleted his files out of pure spite.
The word implies smallness of spirit—meanness for its own sake rather than justified anger.
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enviousWanting what others possess
- jealousResentful of others' advantages
ill-will · antipathy · rancorous · acrimonious · begrudging · sour · festering · seething
Harboring ill will
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- nastyDeeply unpleasant or spiteful
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
- meanAverage, or spiteful
hateful · wicked · venomous · toxic · ill-intentioned · hurtful · deliberate · calculated
Wanting to harm back
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
- grudgingReluctant, resentful in giving
unforgiving · retributive · implacable · punitive · tit-for-tat · wrathful · retaliatory · score-settling
Derisively insinuating
- cattySlyly spiteful
- snarkyMockingly critical in tone
- mean-spiritedUnkind in a petty way
- small-mindedLacking breadth of thought
nitpicking · belittling · disparaging · contemptuous · mocking · jeering · taunting · cutting
Actively opposed or hostile
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
pugnacious · quarrelsome · contentious · adversarial · unfriendly · inimical · bellicose · truculent
bitter
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enviousWanting what others possess
jealous · ill-will · antipathy · rancorous · acrimonious · begrudging · sour · festering · seething · brooding
malevolent
Harboring ill will
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
- nastyDeeply unpleasant or spiteful
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
mean · hateful · wicked · venomous · toxic · ill-intentioned · hurtful · deliberate · calculated · cold-blooded
vengeful
Wanting to harm back
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
grudging · unforgiving · retributive · implacable · punitive · tit-for-tat · wrathful · retaliatory · score-settling · avenger
snide
Derisively insinuating
- cattySlyly spiteful
- snarkyMockingly critical in tone
- mean-spiritedUnkind in a petty way
small-minded · nitpicking · belittling · disparaging · contemptuous · mocking · jeering · taunting · cutting · snubbing
antagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
belligerent · pugnacious · quarrelsome · contentious · adversarial · unfriendly · inimical · bellicose · truculent · defiant
spitefulkind
Type or caring
benevolent · kindhearted · good-hearted · compassionate · loving
spitefulforgiving
Inclined to pardon offenses
magnanimous · merciful · forbearing · tolerant · understanding
spitefulmagnanimous
Noble and forgiving
noble · high-minded · generous · big-hearted · gracious