malevolent

[ muh-lev-uh-luhnt ]

adjective

1. wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious:

   His failures made him malevolent toward those who were successful.

2. evil; harmful; injurious:

   a malevolent inclination to destroy the happiness of others.

3. Astrology. evil or malign in influence.

malevolent

/ məˈlɛvələnt /

adjective

1. wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; malicious
2. astrology having an evil influence

Derived Forms

• maˈlevolence, noun
• maˈlevolently, adverb

Other Words From

• ma·levo·lent·ly adverb
• unma·levo·lent adjective
• unma·levo·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of malevolent¹

First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin malevolent-, stem of malevolēns “ill-disposed, spiteful,” from male- male- + volēns “wanting” (present participle of velle “to want, wish for, desire”; will ¹ )

Word History and Origins

Origin of malevolent¹

C16: from Latin malevolens, from male ill + volens, present participle of velle to wish

Example Sentences

The malevolent among us will surely take heed.

From Los Angeles Times

Behind the stage set of reality is a secret cabal of malevolent actors whose evil motives drive the world's seemingly random or explainable events.

From Salon

The image became an instant meme with people superimposing the stallion into shots from “The Shining,” “Alien 3” and any other movie where this horse’s malevolent visage actually made sense.

From Los Angeles Times

None of these goonishly malevolent claims is authentic, some have been decisively debunked, and some are flagrant misrepresentations.

From Los Angeles Times

And yet it would be simplistic to reduce the protests to a malevolent, antisemitic campaign.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• malicious
• malignant
• murderous
• sinister
• vengeful
• vicious
• wicked