a malicious desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person;
bitter ill will; malice, malevolence;
grudge

Link to present incidents:
The agency’s move (International Atomic Energy Agency) also drew criticism from a former Iranian president and still influential politician, Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who said the demand had been made “out of sheer spite”.
New York Times
Monday, November 30, 2009