If you do something in spite ofyourself, you do it although you did not really intend to or expect to.
The blunt comment made Richard laugh in spite of himself.
She was deeply moved and in spite of herself could not help showing it.
3. uncountable noun
If you do something cruel out of spite, you do it because you want to hurt or upset someone.
He thinks Dan has vandalised the car out of spite.
Never had she met such spite and pettiness.
Synonyms: malice, malevolence, ill will, hate More Synonyms of spite
4. verb [only to-inf]
If you do something cruel tospite someone, you do it in order to hurt or upset them.
You don't want to come because you want to spite me in front of my neighbours. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: annoy, hurt, injure, harm More Synonyms of spite
5. to cut off your nose to spite your face
spite in British English
(spaɪt)
noun
1.
maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
2.
an instance of such malice; grudge
3. archaic
something that induces vexation
4. in spite of
verb(transitive)
5.
to annoy in order to vent spite
6. archaic
to offend
Word origin
C13: variant of despite
spite in American English
(spaɪt)
noun
1.
a.
a mean or evil feeling toward another, characterized by the inclination to hurt, humiliate, annoy, frustrate, etc.; ill will; malice
b.
an instance of this; a grudge
2. Obsolete
something annoying or irritating
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈspited or ˈspiting
3.
to behave in a spiteful manner toward; vent one's spite upon by hurting, annoying, frustrating, etc.
Idioms:
in spite of
Word origin
ME, aphetic < despite: see despite
More idioms containing
spite
cut off your nose to spite your face
Examples of 'spite' in a sentence
spite
This was in spite of evidence that those born in summer tended to perform worse academically.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In which case the habit may continue in spite of all efforts to stop it.
Pearce, John (Dr.) Good Habits, Bad Habits (1994)
Out of... out of pure spite.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
That's in spite of strong evidence that we will mostly still be around to enjoy them.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In spite of glaring evidence to the contrary, you blame yourself.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVE THINKING: Everything you have always known about positive thinking but wereafraid to put into practice (2001)
But in spite of the efforts of the few, the consensus carried the day.
Richard Fortey THE EARTH: An Intimate History (2004)
Your eyes squint at the light, which has directed all its brightness straight at you out of pure spite.
Christianity Today (2000)
The ban is pure spite.
The Sun (2009)
Evidence of sibling spite abounded.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
That is in spite of the fact they have lost four of their last five and slumped to ninth in the Championship.
The Sun (2014)
They seem to have come to that view early on, and stuck to it in spite of mounting evidence to the contrary.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This in spite of the fact that I originally sent the wrong ticket and filled the refund form in incorrectly.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
No action has been taken on 26 of the recommendations, in spite of the evidence of the benefits of education.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
These were removed forthwith in spite of the fact that many of his staff, along with a majority of visitors, were smokers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In spite of the fact that many of the reliefs were found more than 150 years ago, full publication has only recently been completed.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Quotations
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face
In other languages
spite
British English: spite /spaɪt/ NOUN
If you do something cruel out of spite, you do it because you want to hurt or upset someone.
I didn't help him, out of spite I suppose.
American English: spite
Arabic: ضَغِينَة
Brazilian Portuguese: maldade
Chinese: 恶意
Croatian: inat
Czech: zlomyslnost
Danish: ondskab
Dutch: kwaadaardigheid
European Spanish: rencor
Finnish: ilkeys
French: rancune
German: Boshaftigkeit
Greek: μοχθηρία
Italian: dispetto
Japanese: 意地悪
Korean: 악의
Norwegian: ondskap
Polish: złośliwość
European Portuguese: maldade
Romanian: ciudă
Russian: злоба
Latin American Spanish: rencor
Swedish: illvilja
Thai: เจตนาร้าย
Turkish: kincilik
Ukrainian: злість
Vietnamese: sự ác ý
British English: spite /spaɪt/ VERB
If you do something cruel to spite someone, you do it in order to hurt or upset them.
Perhaps he had stayed out all night to spite us, to demonstrate his anger.
American English: spite
Arabic: يُغِيطُ
Brazilian Portuguese: contrariar
Chinese: 激怒
Croatian: pakostiti
Czech: rozčílit
Danish: drille
Dutch: treiteren
European Spanish: fastidiar
Finnish: olla ilkeä
French: blesser
German: ärgern
Greek: φουρκίζω
Italian: fare dispetto a
Japanese: 意地悪をする
Korean: 괴롭히다
Norwegian: plage
Polish: zrobić na złość (komuś)
European Portuguese: contrariar
Romanian: a jigni
Russian: досаждать
Latin American Spanish: fastidiar
Swedish: reta
Thai: กลั่นแกล้ง
Turkish: kin gütmek
Ukrainian: ображати
Vietnamese: chọc tức
All related terms of 'spite'
in spite of
in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding
in spite of sth
You use in spite of to introduce a fact which makes the rest of the statement you are making seem surprising .
cut off your nose to spite your face
to do something in order to hurt another person, without realizing or caring that you will hurt yourself just as much or even more
cut off one's nose to spite one's face
to carry out a vengeful action that hurts oneself more than another
to cut off your nose to spite your face
If you say that someone is cutting off their nose to spite their face , you mean they do something that they think will hurt someone, without realizing or caring that it will hurt themselves as well .
Chinese translation of 'spite'
spite
(spaɪt)
n(u)
恶(惡)意 (èyì)
vt
激怒 (jīnù)
in spite of尽(儘)管 (jǐnguǎn)
to do sth in spite of o.s.不由自主地做某事 (bù yóu zì zhǔ de zuò mǒushì)
(noun)
Definition
deliberate nastiness
Never had she met such spite and pettiness.
Synonyms
malice
There was no malice on his part.
malevolence
His actions betrayed a rare streak of malevolence.
ill will
He didn't bear anyone any ill will.
hate
eyes that held a look of hate
hatred
He has been accused of stirring up hatred between nations.
gall
all gall and wormwood
animosity
There's a long history of animosity between the two nations.
venom
There was no mistaking the venom in his voice.
spleen
There were other targets for his spleen.
pique
rancour
`That's too bad,' he said without rancour.
bitchiness (slang)
malignity
spitefulness
Opposites
kindness
,
benevolence
,
love
,
charity
,
goodwill
,
compassion
,
generosity of spirit
,
kindliness
,
big-heartedness
,
warm-heartedness
(verb)
Definition
to annoy (someone) deliberately, out of spite
He was giving his art collection away for nothing, to spite them.
Synonyms
annoy
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
hurt
injure
harm
provoke
I didn't want to do anything to provoke him.
offend
I had no intention of offending the community.
needle (informal)
She could see that she had needled him with her constant questions.
put out
gall
It was their smugness that galled her most.
nettle
I instantly regretted my remark, because it obviously nettled him.
vex
Everything about that man vexes me.
pique
She was piqued by his lack of enthusiasm.
discomfit
put someone's nose out of joint (informal)
hack someone off (informal)
Opposites
help
,
benefit
,
please
,
support
,
serve
,
aid
,
encourage
,
go along with
phrase
See in spite of
proverb
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face
Additional synonyms
in the sense of animosity
Definition
a powerful dislike or hostility
There's a long history of animosity between the two nations.
Synonyms
hostility,
hate,
hatred,
resentment,
bitterness,
malice,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
virulence,
malignity
in the sense of gall
Definition
a feeling of great bitterness
all gall and wormwood
Synonyms
bitterness,
spite,
resentment,
hostility,
malice,
animosity,
venom,
bile,
antipathy,
spleen,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
animus,
malevolence,
sourness,
malignity
in the sense of gall
Definition
to annoy or irritate
It was their smugness that galled her most.
Synonyms
annoy,
provoke,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
get (informal),
trouble,
bother,
disturb,
plague,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
displease,
irk,
rile (informal),
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub up the wrong way,
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
Synonyms of 'spite'
spite
Explore 'spite' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hate
Definition
intense dislike
eyes that held a look of hate
Synonyms
dislike,
hostility,
hatred,
loathing,
animosity,
aversion,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
abomination,
animus,
abhorrence,
odium (formal),
detestation,
H8,
execration
in the sense of hatred
Definition
intense dislike
He has been accused of stirring up hatred between nations.
Synonyms
hate,
dislike,
animosity,
aversion,
revulsion,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
abomination,
ill will,
animus,
repugnance,
odium (formal),
detestation,
execration
in the sense of ill will
Definition
unkind feeling
He didn't bear anyone any ill will.
Synonyms
hostility,
spite,
dislike,
hatred,
envy,
resentment,
grudge,
malice,
animosity,
aversion,
venom,
antagonism,
antipathy,
enmity,
acrimony,
rancour,
bad blood,
hard feelings,
animus,
malevolence,
unfriendliness
in the sense of malevolence
His actions betrayed a rare streak of malevolence.
Synonyms
malice,
hate,
spite,
hatred,
nastiness,
rancour,
ill will,
vindictiveness,
malignity,
spitefulness,
vengefulness,
maliciousness
in the sense of malignity
Definition
the condition of being malign or deadly
Synonyms
malice,
hate,
evil,
spite,
hostility,
hatred,
bitterness,
animosity,
venom,
wickedness,
rancour,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
viciousness,
malevolence,
vindictiveness,
vengefulness,
maliciousness
in the sense of needle
Definition
to goad or provoke
She could see that she had needled him with her constant questions.
Synonyms
irritate,
anger,
provoke,
annoy,
sting,
bait,
harass,
taunt,
infuriate,
nag,
hassle (informal),
aggravate,
prod,
gall (old-fashioned),
ruffle,
spur,
prick,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
goad,
irk,
rile,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
hack you off (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get your back up (informal),
run up the wrong way,
pester,
pique (old-fashioned),
be on your back (slang)
in the sense of nettle
I instantly regretted my remark, because it obviously nettled him.
Synonyms
irritate,
provoke,
annoy,
gall,
sting,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
ruffle,
exasperate,
vex,
goad,
pique,
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
hack you off (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
harass,
hassle (informal),
fret,
chafe
in the sense of offend
Definition
to hurt the feelings of (a person)
I had no intention of offending the community.
Synonyms
distress,
upset,
outrage,
pain,
wound,
slight,
provoke,
insult,
annoy,
irritate,
put down,
dismay,
snub,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
agitate,
ruffle,
disconcert,
vex,
affront,
displease,
rile,
pique,
give offence,
hurt (someone's) feelings,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
cut to the quick,
miff (informal),
tread on (someone's) toes (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
put (someone's) nose out of joint,
put (someone's) back up,
disgruntle,
get (someone's) goat (slang),
hack someone off (informal)
in the sense of pique
Definition
to hurt (someone's) pride
She was piqued by his lack of enthusiasm.
Synonyms
displease,
wound,
provoke,
annoy,
get (informal),
sting,
offend,
irritate,
put out,
incense,
gall,
nettle,
vex,
affront,
mortify,
irk,
rile,
peeve (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
put someone's nose out of joint (informal),
miff (informal),
hack off (informal)
in the sense of provoke
Definition
to deliberately act in a way intended to anger someone
I didn't want to do anything to provoke him.
Synonyms
anger,
insult,
annoy,
offend,
irritate,
infuriate,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
incense,
enrage,
gall,
put someone out,
madden,
exasperate,
vex,
affront,
chafe,
irk,
rile,
pique,
get on someone's nerves (informal),
get someone's back up,
piss someone off (taboo, slang),
put someone's back up,
try someone's patience,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
make someone's blood boil,
get in someone's hair (informal),
rub someone up the wrong way,
hack someone off (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rancour
Definition
deep bitter hate
`That's too bad,' he said without rancour.
Synonyms
hatred,
hate,
spite,
hostility,
resentment,
bitterness,
grudge,
malice,
animosity,
venom,
antipathy,
spleen,
enmity,
ill feeling,
bad blood,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
malignity,
chip on your shoulder (informal),
resentfulness
in the sense of spleen
Definition
spitefulness or bad temper
There were other targets for his spleen.
Synonyms
spite,
anger,
bitterness,
hostility,
hatred,
resentment,
wrath,
gall,
malice,
animosity,
venom,
bile,
bad temper,
acrimony,
pique,
rancour,
ill will,
animus,
malevolence,
vindictiveness,
malignity,
spitefulness,
ill humour,
peevishness
in the sense of venom
Definition
a feeling of great bitterness or anger towards someone
There was no mistaking the venom in his voice.
Synonyms
malice,
hate,
spite,
bitterness,
grudge,
gall,
acidity,
spleen,
acrimony,
rancour,
ill will,
malevolence,
virulence,
pungency,
malignity,
spitefulness,
maliciousness
in the sense of vex
Definition
to cause (someone) to feel annoyance or irritation