malevolence

[ muh-lev-uh-luhns ]

noun

1. the quality, state, or feeling of being malevolent; ill will; malice; hatred.

   Synonyms: spitefulness, maliciousness, venom, grudge, spite

Word History and Origins

Origin of malevolence¹

First recorded in 1425–75; from Latin malevolentia, from malevolent- (stem of malevolēns malevolent ) + -ia -y; replacing late Middle English malivolence, from Middle French, from Latin, as above

Synonym Study

Malevolence, malignity, rancor suggest the wishing of harm to others. Malevolence is a smoldering ill will: a vindictive malevolence in her expression. Malignity is a deep-seated and virulent disposition to injure; it is more dangerous than malevolence, because it is not only more completely concealed but it often instigates harmful acts: The malignity of his nature was shocking. Rancor is a lasting, corrosive, and implacable hatred and resentment.

Example Sentences

Presented as compelling theater, they brought in-depth insight into our often simplistic attempts to understand the Russian mind, with its complex aspirations, fears and insecurity that can lead to greatness, grandiosity or outright malevolence.

From Los Angeles Times

And yet, behind the lurid carnival barkery of Hulk Hogan and Rudy Giuliani and BeDazzled Alina Habba and the ghoulish malevolence of Stephen Miller and Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk, perhaps the enduring message here was not the blatant “banality of evil,” or even that “the cruelty is the point,” but the ease with which the enshittification of democracy itself is the real endgame of the Trump campaign.

From Slate

Szaniawski, who acknowledges that the audience is meant to recognize Torrance is "completely insane," added that the film nevertheless shows that Jack's malevolence is also rooted in commonplace misogyny.

From Salon

Sheen shows the prince as out of his depth in front of such malevolence.

From BBC

But in doing so, writer-director James Watkins has swapped out malevolence for a tamer sense of misadventure.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antagonism
• grudge
• hostility
• ill will
• maliciousness
• nastiness
• spitefulness
• vindictiveness