spite
[noun]
Synonyms:
- malice, animosity, hatred, ill will, malevolence, spitefulness, spleen, venom
- in spite of: despite, (even) though, notwithstanding, regardless of
[verb]
Synonyms:
- hurt, annoy, harm, injure, vex

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Contrasted words: sympathy, affection, love, tenderness
Related Words: rancor, revenge, revengefulness, vengeance, vengefulness, vindictiveness

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. spite¹ W3 /spaɪt/ noun [uncountable]
[Date: 1200-1300; Origin: despite (noun) (13-20 centuries); ⇒ despite]

1. in spite of something without being affected or prevented by something Synonym : despite:
We went out in spite of the rain.
Kelly loved her husband in spite of the fact that he drank too much.

2. a feeling of wanting to hurt or upset people, for example because you are jealous or think you have been unfairly treated
out of spite (=because of spite)
She broke it just out of spite.
pure/sheer spite (=spite and nothing else)

3. in spite of yourself if you do something in spite of yourself, you do it although you did not expect or intend to do it:
The picture made her laugh in spite of herself.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. spite² verb [transitive only in infinitive]
to deliberately annoy or upset someone:
The neighbours throw things over the garden wall just to spite us.
⇒ cut off your nose to spite your face at CUT OFF(10)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

spite
noun
ADJ. pure | personal
VERB + SPITE be full of, feel She was angry and full of spite.
vent He vented his spite on his grandfather.
PREP. out of ~ She killed her neighbour's cow out of pure spite.
with ~ ‘Your cooking is hard to forget’, he said with spite.
~ towards I felt no spite towards her.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

spite
noun
1.
BAD: I believe that every criminal, in spite of the circumstances, should be severely punished.
GOOD: I believe that every criminal, regardless of the circumstances, should be severely punished.

Usage Note:
Use in spite of to introduce a fact that is in sharp contrast with another fact: 'In spite of all their money, they still aren't happy.'
Use regardless of to emphasize that a particular fact does not change a course of action, even though it may be a difficulty: 'We're determined to have a holiday this year, regardless of how much it costs.'

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2.
See SPITE (spite)

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3.
BAD: In spite of staying at home, I decided to continue my studies in the United States.
GOOD: Instead of staying at home, I decided to continue my studies in the United States.

Usage Note:
When the situation involves a choice between two actions or things, use instead of (NOT in spite of ): 'Instead of building more roads, we should be investing in the railway.'

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4.
BAD: They refused to play in the rain in spite of the crowd protested.
GOOD: They refused to play in the rain in spite of the crowd's protests.

Usage Note:
See note at DESPITE 1 (despite)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

spite
spaɪt
See: cut off one's nose to spite one's face

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲