maleficence

[ muh-lef-uh-suhns ]

noun

1. the doing of evil or harm:

   the maleficence of thieves.

2. the quality or state of being maleficent or harmful.

Word History and Origins

Origin of maleficence¹

From the Latin word maleficentia, dating back to 1590–1600. See malefic, -ence

Example Sentences

“I think the reason why President Biden and his team are in the predicament that they are in is because they lied egregiously at a level of maleficence we’ve never seen,” she said.

From Salon

Speaking of corporate maleficence Warner Bros., how about releasing the series in the Blu-ray instead of the woefully antiquated DVD format?

From Washington Times

As an examination of pure maleficence, the movie is less than thorough.

From New York Times

They may not be able to get their product in front of their fans, but MLB’s overlords still have managed to hit for the cycle of institutional maleficence.

From Washington Post

Pandemic-related government loans were a consistent target for financial maleficence, as well as employers and insurance agencies.

From Fox News