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dispettoso

spiteful

adjective dees-pet-TOH-zoh Rare

Also means

petty; mischievous

Usage Note

Dispettoso describes a person or behaviour that is deliberately annoying or spiteful, especially in small, petty ways — closer to 'naughty' or 'bratty' when applied to children, and 'vindictive' when applied to adults. Fare un dispetto means to play a mean trick. The noun is dispetto (spite, prank).

Examples

"È un bambino dispettoso e capriccioso."

Natural Translation

He is a spiteful and capricious child.

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