- Have you ever wondered why we say “out of spite” instead of “because of spite”?
- Do you find yourself confused about whether to use “in spite of” or “despite”?
- Are you looking for more sophisticated ways to describe negative motivations in English?
Mastering spite collocations is a vital step for any English learner aiming for a C1 or C2 level of fluency. In English, words don’t live in isolation; they exist in “partnerships” called collocations. Using the right word combinations with “spite” ensures you sound natural, helps you avoid grammatical “anxiety,” and ensures your message is conveyed with the exact emotional weight intended.
Essential Collocations using SPITE as a Noun
As a noun, “spite” refers to a desire to hurt, annoy, or offend someone. It is most frequently used in prepositional phrases that explain the reason for an action.
Prepositional Phrases with Spite
These are the most common “fixed” expressions you will hear in daily conversation and read in modern literature.
- Out of spite: Doing something specifically to hurt someone else.
Example: “He deleted the files out of spite after he was passed over for the promotion.” - In spite of: Used to show contrast (equivalent to “despite”).
Example: “We went for a hike in spite of the heavy rain.” - From spite: Less common than “out of,” but still used to indicate the source of an action.
Example: “She refused to sign the document purely from spite.”
Adjective + Spite Combinations
To describe the intensity or nature of the feeling, we use specific adjectives.
- Pure spite / Sheer spite: Used when there is no other reason for an action other than a desire to be mean.
Example: “There was no logic behind his decision; it was pure spite.” - Malicious spite: Emphasizes the intent to cause real harm.
Example: “The rumors were spread with malicious spite to ruin her reputation.” - Petty spite: Used for small, unimportant, but annoying acts of unkindness.
Example: “Hiding his car keys was an act of petty spite.”
Common Collocations with SPITE as a Verb
When used as a verb, “spite” means to intentionally annoy or upset someone by doing something they do not want you to do. It is less common than the noun form but remains essential for high-level English.
Verb + Object Patterns
The verb is almost always followed by a person or a person’s feelings.
- To spite someone: The standard usage.
Example: “I know you’re only wearing that shirt to spite me.” - To spite yourself: Doing something that hurts your own interests just because you are angry.
Example: “If you quit the team now, you are only spiting yourself.”
Idiomatic Verb Usage
The most famous use of “spite” as a verb is in a specific English idiom.
- To cut off your nose to spite your face: To do something that is meant to harm someone else but ends up harming you even more.
Example: “Refusing to work with the best designer just because you dislike him is cutting off your nose to spite your face.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Out of spite | Prepositional Phrase | Doing something to intentionally hurt/annoy. |
| In spite of | Prepositional Phrase | Regardless of; despite. |
| Pure spite | Adjective + Noun | Spite with no other motivating factor. |
| To spite someone | Verb | To intentionally annoy or upset someone. |
| Petty spite | Adjective + Noun | Mean behavior regarding small matters. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Learners often mix up “spite” with “despite” or use the wrong prepositions. Use the table below to correct your usage.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| In spite the weather… | In spite of the weather… |
| Despite of the rain… | In spite of the rain… (or just “Despite”) |
| He did it for spite. | He did it out of spite. |
| He wanted to spite to her. | He wanted to spite her. |
Contextual Story
“I decided to apply for the manager position in spite of the fact that I lacked two years of the required experience. My former supervisor told me I would never succeed, and for a moment, I considered withdrawing my application just so I wouldn’t have to face him. However, my mentor told me that would be cutting off my nose to spite my face. I realized I shouldn’t work hard out of spite toward my old boss, but rather out of a desire for my own growth. It turns out his criticism was born from petty spite because he didn’t want to lose a good worker.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Spite Collocations
What is the difference between “In spite of” and “Despite”?
There is no difference in meaning. “In spite of” consists of three words, while “Despite” is one word. Note that “Despite” never takes the word “of.” You can say “In spite of the delay” or “Despite the delay.”
Is “spite” a formal or informal word?
“Spite” is neutral. It is used in both casual conversation (petty spite) and formal writing (in spite of). However, “out of spite” is the most common way to describe this specific negative motivation in any context.
Can I use “spite” in a positive way?
Generally, no. “Spite” implies a malicious or mean-spirited intention. If you want to describe doing something difficult to prove people wrong in a positive way, we usually use the phrase “to prove them wrong” or “defiance.”
How do I use “in spite of” with a verb?
If you follow “in spite of” with an action, you must use the -ing form (the gerund). For example: “In spite of feeling tired, she finished the project.”
What does “spiteful” mean?
“Spiteful” is the adjective form of the noun. While “spite” is the feeling or the act, “spiteful” describes the person or their character. For example: “He is a spiteful person.”
In Swedish we use 'trots' for both 'despite' and 'in spite of'. It's much simpler! But I will try to remember the 'of' for 'in spite of'.
It’s definitely a bit trickier in English, Hanna! Just remember: 'Despite' stands alone, but 'In spite' needs its friends 'in' and 'of'. You'll get it!
I used 'in spite of' in my homework today and my teacher gave me a gold star! Thanks Translateen!
Is there a difference between American and British usage for these phrases?
What is the opposite of 'out of spite'? Is it 'out of kindness'?
Precisely, Sophie! 'Out of kindness' or 'out of goodwill' are the perfect antonyms. It's a great way to contrast motivations in your writing.
This really helps for my IELTS preparation. I think using 'in spite of' will help me get a higher score in the Cohesion and Coherence section.
I noticed 'in spite of' is used at the start of sentences sometimes. Does that change the meaning?
It doesn't change the meaning, Ji-hoon! It just changes the emphasis. 'In spite of the rain, we went out' is more dramatic than 'We went out in spite of the rain.' Both are perfectly correct.
I love learning collocations! It helps me sound so much more natural. Do you have a list of collocations for 'malice' too?
Is 'in spite of the fact that' too wordy? My teacher told me to avoid 'the fact that' in essays.
Thank you for the examples. Could you clarify if 'regardless' means the same as 'in spite of'?
They are very close, Priya! 'In spite of' usually suggests there was an obstacle that didn't stop the action. 'Regardless' means the factor wasn't even considered. Often they are interchangeable, but 'in spite of' feels a bit more descriptive of the struggle.
Is 'out of spite' considered rude to use in a professional setting?