as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a catty remark that served only to hurt their feelings
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Recent Examples of catty
But there’s nothing—no backbiting, no meanness (of either sort), no catty contempt for the hands that fed him, not even a stray complaint about some hack winning a prize.
—
Christian Wiman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
After a few days of memes and catty jokes, some commentators expressed alarm that the backlash to Erivo’s statement had gone too far.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Edward Berger’s Conclave, adapted from the novel by Robert Harris, showcases the gaudy ritual and ornate displays of Roman Catholicism, while also offering an intimate (albeit imagined) look at the backroom dealings and catty confrontations that go into the election of the supreme pontiff.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Feeling Used: What’s going on with these catty friends-of-the-friend-of-your-husband who don’t want you at parties?
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for catty
Christian Wiman, Harper's Magazine, 2 Aug. 2024
After a few days of memes and catty jokes, some commentators expressed alarm that the backlash to Erivo’s statement had gone too far.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Edward Berger’s Conclave, adapted from the novel by Robert Harris, showcases the gaudy ritual and ornate displays of Roman Catholicism, while also offering an intimate (albeit imagined) look at the backroom dealings and catty confrontations that go into the election of the supreme pontiff.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
Feeling Used: What’s going on with these catty friends-of-the-friend-of-your-husband who don’t want you at parties?
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 22 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for catty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for catty
Adjective
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Fraudsters are increasingly using generative AI to write convincing phishing emails, improve deepfakes, and draft new forms of malicious code — making scams harder to detect.—
Sam Sabin,
Axios,
11 Mar. 2025
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious apps is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Michael, in a filmed conversation with Grace, claimed that his ex-wife had manipulated him and was cruel to Natalia.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
19 Mar. 2025
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In Season 2, a cruel winter brings new challenges and unfinished business to Jacob (Harrison Ford) and Cara (Helen Mirren) back at Dutton ranch.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Ferran’s Blanche puts up a vicious fight, but Mescal’s Stanley relishes the roughhousing.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2025
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Contrary to what many people believe, pit bulls don't naturally have a bad temperament, are not inherently vicious, and are not more dangerous than other dogs.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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That a little rectangle of cardboard and paper and ink is no match for all the hateful rhetoric about books somehow hurting children.—
Sarah Hoffman and Ian Hoffman,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
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The booing at the mention of Huizenga’s name was so hateful that an embarrassed Marino had to beg it to stop.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And then, to top a nasty joke with a nastier one, he was deemed useless for the final twenty years of his life.—
Jackson Arn,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
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Fancy record-cleaning machines like this one from Pro-Ject ($450) use a platter and a vacuum system to physically suck the nasty cleaning solution out of the grooves, with a motor that spins the record in two directions.—
Parker Hall,
WIRED,
8 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Moore does some of her most deliciously bitchy work in the second season of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series.—
Katie Rife,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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Most compellingly, Shauna has grown bitchy and maniacal following her baby’s death and Natalie’s ascent to leadership.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to catty
Cite this Entry
“Catty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/catty. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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