as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the gossip would utter the most vicious things with a spiteful smile
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spiteful
Iannucci may spin stories of spiteful people, but Iannucci the person is different.
—
John Baldoni, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
This sequel was similar in its angry, bleak tone but amped up with little of the polish that some in Washington had hoped would signal Trump’s second term might be less spiteful than the first go-around.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
The end of the JCPOA made a spiteful Iran even more aggressive.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2023
Biden has the historic opportunity to spare countless Americans from the fear of retaliation by a spiteful bully.
—Pierce O'Donnell, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for spiteful
John Baldoni, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
This sequel was similar in its angry, bleak tone but amped up with little of the polish that some in Washington had hoped would signal Trump’s second term might be less spiteful than the first go-around.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 20 Jan. 2025
The end of the JCPOA made a spiteful Iran even more aggressive.
—Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2023
Biden has the historic opportunity to spare countless Americans from the fear of retaliation by a spiteful bully.
—Pierce O'Donnell, The Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for spiteful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spiteful
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
Cite this Entry
“Spiteful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spiteful. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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