What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
spiteful
Example
She made spiteful comments about her ex-boyfriend to ruin his reputation. [spiteful: adjective]
Example
He acted spitefully towards his coworker by sabotaging their project. [spitefully: adverb]
mean
Example
The mean girls at school bullied their classmates and made them feel unwelcome. [mean: adjective]
Example
He said some mean things to his sister during their argument. [mean: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mean is more commonly used than spiteful in everyday language. Mean is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while spiteful is less common and has a stronger negative connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between spiteful and mean?
Both spiteful and mean are associated with an informal tone, but mean can be used in both formal and informal contexts, while spiteful is more limited to informal or emotional situations.
