MALEVOLENCE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'malevolence' differ from other similar words?

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. // a look of dark malevolence

Q: When is 'grudge' a more appropriate choice than 'malevolence'?

While in some cases nearly identical to malevolence , grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction. // never one to harbor a grudge

Q: When would 'ill will' be a good substitute for 'malevolence'?

The words ill will and malevolence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration. // ill will provoked by a careless remark

Q: When is it sensible to use 'malice' instead of 'malevolence'?

While the synonyms malice and malevolence are close in meaning, malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer. // felt no malice toward their former enemies

Q: When could 'malignity' be used to replace 'malevolence'?

The meanings of malignity and malevolence largely overlap; however, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness. // a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Q: Where would 'spite' be a reasonable alternative to 'malevolence'?

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. // petty insults inspired by spite

Q: When might 'spleen' be a better fit than 'malevolence'?

The synonyms spleen and malevolence are sometimes interchangeable, but spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice. // venting his spleen against politicians

malevolence

noun

mə-ˈle-və-lən(t)s

Definition of malevolence next

as in malice

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm only mindless malevolence would explain this cruel vandalism

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the noun malevolence differ from other similar words?

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.

a look of dark malevolence

When is grudge a more appropriate choice than malevolence?

While in some cases nearly identical to malevolence, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When would ill will be a good substitute for malevolence?

The words ill will and malevolence are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

When is it sensible to use malice instead of malevolence?

While the synonyms malice and malevolence are close in meaning, malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When could malignity be used to replace malevolence?

The meanings of malignity and malevolence largely overlap; however, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Where would spite be a reasonable alternative to malevolence?

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.

petty insults inspired by spite

When might spleen be a better fit than malevolence?

The synonyms spleen and malevolence are sometimes interchangeable, but spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2024 Original franchise star Ellen Burstyn returned as Chris MacNeil to face this malevolence. —

Nick Romano, EW.com, 5 Sep. 2024 Creatures of folklore and forces of gothic malevolence gave way to atomic behemoths, the irradiated bugs, reptiles and suddenly colossal housewives of the 1950s. —

A.a. Dowd, Washington Post, 31 July 2024 This is the iconic horror baddie he was meant to play, a deeply unnerving dollmaker who warbles with musical malevolence, confounds the law with his Zodiac-like ciphers, and lives for glam rock and killing sprees. —

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 11 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for malevolence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolence

Noun

And not out of malice necessarily, some people are just so in their heads about their own stuff.

Brande Victorian, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Dec. 2024
The Iranian regime’s malice is aimed not only at the United States or the Jews.

Diane Gensler, Baltimore Sun, 20 Nov. 2024