in spite of

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

spite /spaɪt/   n., v., spit•ed, spit•ing. 
n. [uncountable]

1. a mean, narrow-minded desire to harm another person;
   malice:
   He was mean to her just from spite.

v. [~ + object]

2. to treat with spite;
   hurt or annoy:
   I'm sure they turned her down just to spite me.

Idioms

3. Idioms in spite of, [~ + object] in disregard or defiance of:
   In spite of repeated warnings, she continued to smoke.
4. in spite of oneself, in disregard of one's best efforts not to do something;
   unwillingly:
   Even though I was angry at them, I had to smile at their silliness in spite of myself.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spite  (spīt), n., v., spit•ed, spit•ing. 
n. 

1. a malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person;
   bitter ill will;
   malice.
2. a particular instance of such an attitude or action;
   grudge.
3. [Obs.] something that causes vexation;
   annoyance.
4. in spite of, in disregard or defiance of;
   notwithstanding;
   despite:
   She arrived at school on time in spite of the snowstorm.

v.t. 

5. to treat with spite or malice.
6. to annoy or thwart, out of spite.
7. to fill with spite;
   vex;
   offend.
8. cut off one's nose to spite one's face. See nose (def. 14).

• 1250–1300; Middle English; aphetic variant of despite

spite′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. malevolence, maliciousness, rancor, venom, spleen. See grudge. 
• 4. See notwithstanding. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

spite / spaɪt/ noun

1. maliciousness involving the desire to harm another; venomous ill will
2. an instance of such malice; grudge
3. something that induces vexation
4. in spite of ⇒ (preposition) in defiance of; regardless of; notwithstanding

verb (transitive)

1. to annoy in order to vent spite

Etymology: 13th Century: variant of despite