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Spite vs Wrath - What's the difference?

spite | wrath |

In obsolete terms the difference between spite and wrath

is that spite is vexation; chagrin; mortification while wrath is to anger; to enrage.

As nouns the difference between spite and wrath

is that spite is ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; a desire to vex or injure; petty malice; grudge; rancor while wrath is great anger.

As verbs the difference between spite and wrath

is that spite is to treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart while wrath is to anger; to enrage.

As a preposition spite

is notwithstanding; despite.

As an adjective wrath is

wrathful; very angry.

spite

English

Etymology 1

From a shortening of (etyl) despit, from (etyl) despit (whence despite). Compare also Dutch spijt.

Noun

(en-noun)
  • Ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart; a desire to vex or injure; petty malice; grudge; rancor.
    • He was so filled with spite for his ex-wife, he could not hold down a job.
    They did it just for spite .
  • * Shakespeare
    • This is the deadly spite that angers.
  • (obsolete) Vexation; chagrin; mortification.
    • "The time is out of joint: O cursed spite." Shakespeare, Hamlet

    Verb

    (spit)
  • To treat maliciously; to try to injure or thwart.
    • She soon married again, to spite her ex-husband.
  • (obsolete) To be angry at; to hate.
    • The Danes, then pagans, spited places of religion. — Fuller.
  • To fill with spite; to offend; to vex.
    • Darius, spited at the Magi, endeavoured to abolish not only their learning, but their language. — Sir. W. Temple.
    Related terms
    * spiteful * in spite of * despite

    See also

    * malignant * malicious

    Etymology 2

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Notwithstanding; despite.

    • Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    wrath

    English

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • Great anger.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
    • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.
  • (rare) Punishment.
  • * Bible, (w) xiii. 4
    • A revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
  • (trading card games, slang) A single card that is able to destroy many creatures.

    • Synonyms

    * (great anger) fury, ire

    Derived terms

    * grapes of wrath * wrathful

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (rare) Wrathful; very angry.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • (obsolete) To anger; to enrage.
  • * (Chaucer)
  • * (Piers Plowman)
    • (Webster 1913)