noun

spite

spite, malice, ill will

He broke the toy out of spite.

He broke the toy out of spite.

She refused the invitation just for spite.

She refused the invitation just for spite.

out of spite with the desire to harm, annoy, or offend someone He broke the toy out of spite.

in spite of ((sth.)) used for saying that something happens even though something else might have prevented it He went out in spite of the rain.

Synonyms: malice, malevolence, venom; Antonyms: goodwill, kindness

Short for 'despight', from Old French 'despit' (contempt), from Latin 'despectus'.

Often found in the phrase 'in spite of' (meaning despite) or 'out of spite' (to deliberately annoy someone).

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