Spitefulnesses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality or state of being maliciously vindictive toward others
2. A disposition characterized by the intent to harm or annoy others for one's own desire for revenge
3. Actions or behaviors expressing resentment and the desire to cause distress to others

Etymology: "Spitefulnesses" is the plural of "spitefulness," which means the actions or behaviours that express resentment and a wish to hurt others. The plural form treats each instance of such conduct as a countable act, much as one might speak of kindnesses or cruelties. The base word, "spiteful," is built from "spite" plus the suffix "-ful," meaning full of or characterised by. "Spite" itself came into English as a shortened form of "despite," which originally meant contempt or defiance, so a spiteful person was one full of that scorn toward others. The suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun of state or quality, was added to "spiteful" to form "spitefulness."

Synonyms: malice, malevolence, resentment, vindictiveness, hostility

Antonyms: kindness, benevolence, compassion, forgiveness, goodwill