Were out of Spite?

If you do something cruel out of spite, you do it because you want to hurt or upset someone.

Is it in spite or out of spite?

"He spoke out of spite" always means something along the lines "He spoke out of hatefulness/malevolence". "In spite" CAN mean exactly the same thing, but does not have to. It can also mean "anyway/regardless of".

How do you use spite?

“Spite” is a noun defined as “ill will or hatred toward another, accompanied with the disposition to irritate, annoy, or thwart.” That's a fancy way to say “holding a grudge.” “Spite” is also a verb, which means “to purposely hurt or annoy.” For example: Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.