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spite

Definition

  • noun: a desire to harm, anger, or defeat another person especially because you feel that you have been treated wrongly in some way
  • noun: petty ill will or hatred with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart
  • verb: to deliberately annoy, upset, or hurt (someone)
  • verb: to fill with spite
  • synonyms: annoy, grudge, malevolence

Examples

  • She tried to 'put on a brave face' [=she tried to appear brave or calm] despite the pain of the injury.

  • You can refuse to talk to her if you like, but you're just 'cutting off your nose to spite your face'.

  • They made it on time 'in spite of the fact' that they got a flat tire.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) What happened to saluting an officer when he leaves the room? Open it up. I don't believe it. Dawson's gonna go to jail just to spite me. Fine. If he wants to jump off a cliff, that's his business. I'm not gonna hold his hand on the way. I want to get him a new lawyer. How? (..)
    1992 A Few Good Men