spite

This term describes a specific brand of malice characterized by pettiness and a desire for retribution. It is not just general hatred, but a targeted impulse to cause frustration or distress to another person, often because the actor feels wronged or slighted. As a noun, the word is typically uncountable when referring to the emotion of malice. However, it becomes countable when referring to a specific act of malice, such as a spite fence. This distinction marks the shift from an internal feeling to an external action.