malevolence
noun
Synonyms
- cattiness
- despite
- hatefulness
- malice
- maliciousness
- malignance
- malignancy
- malignity
- meanness
- nastiness
- spite
- spitefulness
- spleen
- venom
- viciousness
Example Sentences
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2022 Jesse was the closest thing to a conscience Walt had; once their partnership dissolved, Walt’s malevolence only grew. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2022 There’s a kind of malevolence that looms large precisely because its purview is so paltry. New York Times, 28 June 2022 Danger! — an overwhelming emblem of colonial malevolence. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 23 June 2022 After a long night of drinking and a random bedroom romp with one of the restaurant-goers (Kim Dong-Seok), who will soon enough be confronted by her malevolence, Freddie heads to the adoption center. Sheri Linden, The Hollywood Reporter, 26 May 2022 Back then, Coriolanus Snow—the white-haired president of Panem, played with elegant malevolence by the incomparable Donald Sutherland in the four cinematic adaptations of Suzanne Collins’s best-selling trilogy—was only an ambitious teenager. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 June 2022 For one: how Phil’s malevolence comes from a place of self-loathing and self-protection as a closeted gay man living in Montana in 1925. Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2022 Ayosa wants to go and do, but tragedy and other people’s malevolence stalk her. Nanjala Nyabola, Vogue, 26 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
malevolence
noun
Synonyms & Similar Words
- malice
- hatred
- cruelty
- venom
- maliciousness
- hatefulness
- spitefulness
- malignity
- meanness
- hostility
- spite
- viciousness
- malignance
- jealousy
- malignancy
- contempt
- nastiness
- disgust
- bitterness
- hate
- disdain
- spleen
- abusiveness
- animosity
- vengefulness
- vindictiveness
- despite
- antagonism
- resentment
- enmity
- antipathy
- cattiness
- loathing
- abhorrence
- rancor
- distaste
- revulsion
- repugnance
- repulsion
- abomination
- invidiousness
- resentment
- mean-spiritedness
- horror
- jaundice
- virulence
- grudge
- rancor
- execration
- bile
- scorn
- ill will
- vitriol
- bitchiness
- despicableness
- bitchery
- aversion
- pique
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- devotion
- love
- passion
- friendliness
- amiability
- hospitality
- civility
- amity
- infatuation
- adoration
- kindness
- worship
- ardor
- affection
- sympathy
- kindliness
- amicability
- understanding
- veneration
- empathy
- cordiality
- goodwill
- friendship
- charity
- comity
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of malevolence are grudge, ill will, malice, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.
While in some cases nearly identical to malevolence, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.
The words ill will and malevolence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.
While the synonyms malice and malevolence are close in meaning, malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.
The meanings of malignity and malevolence largely overlap; however, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.
In some situations, the words spite and malevolence are roughly equivalent. However, spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.
The synonyms spleen and malevolence are sometimes interchangeable, but spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.