Spiteful vs Retaliation - What's the difference?

As an adjective spiteful

is filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious.

violent response to an act of harm or perceived injustice.

(Webster 1913)

* spightful (obsolete) * spightfull (obsolete) * spitefull (archaic)

(en adjective)

Filled with, or showing, spite; having a desire to vex, annoy, or injure; malignant; malicious

* *

(en-noun)

Violent response to an act of harm or perceived injustice.

An act of violent response.

* {{quote-news, year=2009, date=January 13, author=, title=`Never again,' says survivor, work=Toronto Star citation

, passage=Hamas knew there would be massive retaliations .}}

* See also