Catty

Characterized by spiteful, malicious, or deliberately unkind comments or behavior, often directed towards other people, particularly women. It typically involves subtle digs, backhanded compliments, and gossipy remarks intended to wound or undermine someone's reputation or self-esteem. catty behavior often stems from feelings of insecurity, jealousy, or a desire for social dominance. The intent behind the cattiness is to make the target feel inferior or uncomfortable through thinly veiled insults and criticisms. It often thrives in environments where social status and competition are high.

Catty meaning with examples

• Sarah's comment about Jessica's dress, though seemingly innocent, had a catty undertone, highlighting a slight imperfection. It made Jessica feel self-conscious for the rest of the evening. Everyone knew she meant more than she let on. The underlying message was that Sarah felt more fashionable, and it brought her satisfaction.
• During the meeting, Emily made several catty remarks about Chloe's presentation, subtly pointing out perceived weaknesses and errors in her analysis. Chloe felt humiliated and undermined. The goal was to appear intelligent while simultaneously damaging Chloe's credibility. The entire office felt the tension and drama.
• The online forum was filled with catty comments about the actress's appearance, dissecting every detail and offering unsolicited criticisms. The cruelty of some commenters was shocking. Their goal was to cause shame. The discussion quickly turned toxic, revealing a culture of body shaming and harsh judgment.
• Even though they appeared friends, the two women's relationship was punctuated by catty exchanges. They were constantly jockeying for attention and trying to one-up each other. Each interaction involved subtle jabs, backhanded compliments, and thinly veiled insults. This passive-aggressive form of friendship became a form of rivalry.