as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
cut down their neighbors' tree out of sheer spitefulness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spitefulness
Noun
-
The task is advanced by our malice toward one, and that one is Mary.—
Thomas Mallon,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026 -
Most environments do not fail out of malice.—
Bill Schiffmiller,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
When picturing a predator, most people envision an animal with immense speed, sharp teeth or deadly venom.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
-
Some people have an allergic reaction to the venom.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Many exiles, however, disagreed with that view and said the incident had only renewed their hatred for Castro.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
-
America remains the only large country in history where Jews have become fully equal citizens under a constitutional order strong enough, so far, to withstand waves of hatred and scapegoating.—
Michael W. Sonnenfeldt,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s one of the great cruelties of the world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The movie, set in Spain in 1944, is both an intoxicating work of fantasy and a grim parable of political rebellion, and its insights into the cruelties and vulnerabilities of fascist power remain undimmed.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Where was the anger or rage or spite, aside from in fleeting, inconsequential moments?—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
This is what Neander has been doing ever since ascending to the Rays’ GM job at 32 in 2016, constantly fielding competitive teams in spite of one of the lowest payrolls in baseball every year.—
Bill Madden,
New York Daily News,
16 May 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Spitefulness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spitefulness. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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