Spiteful, as gossip (5)
I believe the answer is:
catty
'spiteful as gossip' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for catty that I've seen before include "Mean and spiteful" , "Backbiting" , "It's like a queen" , "Spiteful in feline way" , "Bitchy as a feline" .)