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dispetto

spite

noun dees-PET-toh Rare

Also means

annoyance

Usage Note

Dispetto conveys a petty, deliberate act meant to vex someone. The common phrase per dispetto means 'out of spite'. Fare un dispetto is to play a mean trick. Do not confuse with disprezzo (contempt, a stronger and less petty feeling). A dispetto di means 'in spite of / despite', which is a formal and very common prepositional phrase.

Examples

"Lo ha fatto per puro dispetto."

Natural Translation

He did it out of pure spite.

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