malevolence

noun

ma·​lev·​o·​lence mə-ˈle-və-lən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being malevolent

slander that arose from pure malevolence

2

: malevolent behavior

an era full of selfishness and malevolence

Synonyms

• cattiness
• despite
• hatefulness
• malice
• maliciousness
• malignance
• malignancy
• malignity
• meanness
• nastiness
• spite
• spitefulness
• spleen
• venom
• viciousness

Choose the Right Synonym for malevolence

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 malevolence in a Sentence

only mindless malevolence would explain this cruel vandalism

Recent Examples on the Web

Eastwood’s story runs on the bedrock of the unimpeachable, confident that there is a definite truth to be discovered about an event such as the killing of Kendall and that only malevolence or incompetence could prevent its discovery. —Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024

What Uzumaki never loses is the core idea that the human body is a malleable, spongy thing, available to absorb both kindness, compassion, and good energy and malevolence, evil, and brutality. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024

On an international level, too..., one country’s climate response can easily leave another country impoverished, either through neglect, foolishness or outright malevolence. —Saima S. Iqbal, Scientific American, 24 Oct. 2024

Esposito at least tries to have fun with some of Cicero’s malevolence, and Plaza tries vainly to strike an over-the-top tone that leans into the story's absurdity. —EW.com, 12 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

malevolence

noun

ma·​lev·​o·​lence mə-ˈlev-ə-lən(t)s 

1

: the quality or state of being malevolent

2

: malevolent behavior