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

Example 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 The message is the malevolence of AI for the most part. —

Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2025 Nicolas Cage went for a high-concept ghoul in Longlegs; Hugh Grant reveled in professorial malevolence in Heretic; Naomi Scott unraveled in the face of grinning death in Smile 2. —

Joe Reid, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for malevolence

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolence

Noun

The nation needed a president who could hold the pieces together, waging war when it was thrust upon him, urging malice toward none when the situation--or state, or congressman, or issue--changed.

— arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Donald Trump seems to prefer malice toward all and charity for none.

— Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025