The word "spiteful" is spelled with the letters S-P-I-T-E-F-U-L. The pronunciation is /ˈspaɪtfəl/, with emphasis on the first syllable. The "i" in "spite" is pronounced as /aɪ/, which is a diphthong sound made by combining the /a/ sound in "cat" with the /ɪ/ sound in "sit". The "e" in "ful" is pronounced as /əl/, which is a schwa sound made by relaxing the mouth and making a short, unstressed sound. The word means showing malice or ill-will towards another person.
Spiteful is an adjective that describes someone or something that is malicious, vengeful, or has a desire to harm or hurt others intentionally. This term refers to individuals who engage in actions solely to inflict pain, annoyance, or distress onto others, motivated by a deep-seated sense of resentment or animosity.
A spiteful person often exhibits a pattern of vindictive behavior that can manifest as acts of meanness, cruelty, or revenge. They may go out of their way to intentionally cause harm or to undermine others in a manner designed solely for their joy and satisfaction. This behavior usually stems from a strong sense of anger, jealousy, or spitefulness towards another person or a group of individuals.
Spiteful actions can take various forms, ranging from spreading malicious rumors or gossip, sabotaging someone's reputation or chances for success, to directly causing physical or emotional harm. These actions are typically carried out with a calculated intention to cause pain and suffering.
In general, spiteful behavior is regarded as negative and harmful, as it often contributes to a toxic and hostile environment. Spitefulness can also impact interpersonal relationships, as individuals prioritizing their own desires to cause harm may find it difficult to establish trust, respect, or maintain healthy connections with others.
Overall, to be spiteful is to engage in harmful actions with the sole purpose of causing hurt and distress to others, driven by feelings of resentment and ill will.
Having a desire to annoy or injure.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "spiteful" originated from the Middle English term "spitful" or "spightful", which first appeared in the 14th century. It is derived from the Old English word "spytfull", meaning "full of spite or malice", which further traces its roots back to the Old Norse word "spittr", meaning "ill-natured" or "spiteful". Ultimately, the word can be linked to the Proto-Germanic word "spitetaz", suggesting a sense of ill-will or grudge.