What does despitefully mean?
Despitefully is an adverb meaning "in a malicious or spiteful manner." To treat someone despitefully is to act toward them with deliberate cruelty, contempt, or an intent to insult or injure. The word derives from the adjective "despiteful" (itself from "despite," meaning scorn or malice) plus the adverbial suffix "-ly." Although once more widely current, despitefully has become rare in modern usage, surviving chiefly in literary, legal-historical, and biblical contexts — most famously in the King James Bible, where Jesus instructs his followers to pray for those who "despitefully use" them. Because of this scriptural pedigree, the word carries a solemn, elevated tone. In contemporary writing, spitefully, maliciously, or vindictively are far more common substitutes, but despitefully retains value when a writer wants a distinctly archaic or reverent flavor. Its negative connotation is unambiguous: there is no neutral or positive use of the word.
adverbIn a malicious or spiteful manner; with the intent to insult or injure someone. The word is now chiefly literary, biblical, or archaic in register.
- In a manner showing malice, contempt, or spite; with deliberate intent to insult, injure, or humiliate.
"They spoke of him despitefully, twisting his words to make him look foolish."
"The psalmist prayed for deliverance from those who persecuted him despitefully."
"She was treated despitefully by her rivals, who spread cruel rumors to ruin her reputation."
Despitefully survives today largely because it appears in the King James Bible — it's one of the few places you'll still hear it spoken aloud.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of despitefully
Despitefully is formed from the adjective "despiteful," which combines the noun "despite" — borrowed into Middle English from Old French "despit," ultimately from Latin "despectus," meaning scorn or contempt (a derivative of despicere, "to look down on") — with the suffix "-ful" and the adverbial "-ly." The word has been part of English since at least the late Middle Ages, and its survival owes much to the King James Bible of 1611. Cognates and relatives include despise, despicable, and spite itself, all tracing back to that same Latin root about looking down upon something.
Related word forms
How despitefully is actually used
Despitefully is formal, literary, and now somewhat archaic; in modern everyday English, "spitefully" or "maliciously" would be the natural choices. It is strongly associated with the language of the King James Bible and older religious texts.
Easily confused with despitefully
"Despite" functions as a preposition meaning "in spite of," while "despitefully" is an adverb describing malicious behavior.