# spitefully

**Pronunciation:** /ˈspaɪtfəli/ · SPY-tuh-ful-lee

**CEFR level:** C1

**Part of speech:** adverb

## Meaning

In a way that shows a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone, often out of meanness or a desire for revenge.

## Examples

- She deliberately ignored him, speaking spitefully about his new project.
- He acted spitefully, sabotaging her work just before the deadline.
- The comments were made spitefully, intended to cause maximum embarrassment.

## Synonyms

- meanly — Shows a general lack of kindness or generosity.
- maliciously — Implies a strong desire to cause harm or suffering.
- venomously — Suggests extreme bitterness and hatred, like the venom of a snake.
- vindictively — Emphasizes acting out of a desire for revenge for a perceived wrong.

## Antonyms

- kindly — Acting in a friendly, generous, and considerate way.
- benevolently — With goodwill and a desire to do good.
- generously — Showing a readiness to give more than is expected or necessary.

## Common patterns

- spitefully towards — Directing mean or hurtful behavior at a specific person or group. — He behaved spitefully towards anyone who disagreed with him.
- spitefully ignore — To deliberately choose not to acknowledge or pay attention to someone in a way that is intended to hurt or annoy them. — She spitefully ignored his attempts to apologize.

## Collocations

- act spitefully — He acted spitefully towards his colleagues after being passed over for promotion.
- speak spitefully — She spoke spitefully about her ex-friend's new relationship.
- react spitefully — The child reacted spitefully when his toy was taken away.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/spitefully

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