# spite

/ˈspaɪt/ (US) · /spˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spite
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. malice or ill will

noun · CEFR B2

a feeling of wanting to annoy or upset someone, often because you feel they have treated you badly.

For teachers: a desire to harm, annoy, or frustrate someone, typically characterized by petty malice or ill will.

- He only invited her ex-boyfriend to the party out of pure spite.
- The decision to block the promotion seemed to be motivated more by personal spite than by any objective assessment of her professional performance.

### 3. in spite of

preposition · CEFR B1

used to say that something happens even though there is something else that might prevent it.

For teachers: functioning as a complex preposition meaning 'notwithstanding' or 'despite'.

- In spite of the heavy rain, the football match continued until the end.
- The company reported record profits in spite of the global economic downturn and rising energy costs.

Usage: Always used in the fixed phrase 'in spite of'.

## Examples

- He broke her favorite vase out of spite.
- She refused to sign the divorce papers out of pure spite, even though she no longer wanted to be married.
- The architect designed the narrow, windowless wall specifically to block his neighbor's view of the ocean, a classic example of a structure built entirely out of spite.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.