ill will

noun

: unfriendly feeling

Choose the Right Synonym for ill will

malice, malevolence, ill will, spite, malignity, spleen, grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress.

malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

Examples of ill will in a Sentence

We bear no ill will toward each other.

Recent Examples on the Web

There has been an awful lot of water under the bridge since then — and a lot of ill will between the clubs at boardroom level — but there was always a degree of respect between Guardiola and Klopp and, the odd flare-up aside, between the two sets of players. —Oliver Kay, The Athletic, 23 Feb. 2025

Jinger Duggar Vuolo doesn’t hold any ill will towards her parents for her religious upbringing. —Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 12 Feb. 2025

Meta reportedly used a Republican lobbying firm to spread ill will toward TikTok in 2022. —Kalhan Rosenblatt, NBC News, 14 Jan. 2025

Kirk Cousins has no ill will in this building toward anybody or with anybody. —Josh Kendall, The Athletic, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ill will

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill

Kids Definition

ill will

noun

: unfriendly feeling