Petty malice is a type of malicious behavior characterized by small-scale, spiteful actions. It is often used to describe the intentional infliction of harm or discomfort on another person without any legitimate purpose. SPITE, which is a five-letter word for petty malice, is an emotion that is driven by a desire to hurt or annoy someone else. Petty malice can be seen in many forms, such as gossiping, spreading rumors, and other forms of verbal abuse.