malice

noun

ˈma-ləs How to pronounce malice (audio)
Definition of malicenext
as in venom
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm there was no reason other than pure malice to spread such disgusting lies all over campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun malice differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of malice are grudge, ill will, malevolence, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words 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

When is grudge a more appropriate choice than malice?

Although the words grudge and malice have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is it sensible to use ill will instead of malice?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

Where would malevolence be a reasonable alternative to malice?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

In what contexts can malignity take the place of malice?

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When would spite be a good substitute for malice?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 malice?

While the synonyms spleen and malice are close in meaning, 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 malice Worse than his malice is his neediness, which seems to break through that fourth wall to put its sticky fingers around our throats. — Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 18 Feb. 2025 There are plenty of GMs out there who try to emulate Lamoriello as far as trying to keep any news from leaking or keeping a close watch on what’s posted on social media, but the difference with Lou is that his rules are not enforced with malice or high emotion. — Arthur Staple, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 To a degree surprising for those who think of the Trump administration as a mere composite of malice, nihilism, and chaos, its Ukraine policy seems orchestrated, with three big pieces dropping yesterday alone. — Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2025 And a few good men and women, fighting to survive amidst all the malice and depravity. — Erik Kain, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malice
  1. venom
  2. hatred
  3. cruelty
  4. spite
  5. malevolence
  6. hostility
  7. malignity
Noun
  • Frog venom originated in Mexico and South America and is commonly used for ritual purposes.
    — Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Bioactive compounds in the venom of related species have contributed to medical advancements, including pain treatments.
    — Katie Hunt, CNN, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of venom
Noun
  • What’s been really interesting to me about the Blake situation is how much of the hatred against her is coming from women.
    — Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Thanks to his efforts to take a chain saw to the federal government through DOGE, Elon Musk has attracted a level of ire from left-wing activists that now rivals their level of hatred for President Trump.
    — The Editors, National Review, 24 Mar. 2025
Definition of hatred
Noun
  • Officers added at the time that she'd been arrested and charged with assault in the first degree, kidnapping in the second degree, unlawful restraint in the first degree, cruelty to persons and reckless endangerment in the first degree.
    — Becca Longmire, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Sullivan was arrested on March 12 and charged with first-degree assault, second-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful restraint, cruelty to persons and first-degree reckless endangerment.
    — Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Definition of cruelty
Noun
  • The ecosystem remains unstable in spite of investments and the introduction of new tools.
    — Chuck Brooks, Forbes.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Much has been made of Maldonado making the team for his defense and in spite of his offense.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2025
Definition of spite
Noun
  • In the initial months of Donald Trump’s second Administration, the qualities of malevolence, retribution, and bewildering velocity have obscured somewhat the ineptitude of its principals.
    — David Remnick, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025
  • At others, there are undertones of malevolence, potential violence.
    — Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of malevolence
Noun
  • America’s first Black female doctor also faced open hostility from the white medical establishment.
    — Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Despite frequent instances of both sides accusing one another of violating the truce, the elusive breakthrough led to the longest cessation of hostilities since the war began, as well as the release of 33 Israelis from Hamas captivity and nearly 2,000 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
    — Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2025
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • His Cyrano is the play’s hero, even if the character’s psychological limitations are as much a factor in the story as the machinations of De Guiche, whose malignity is sent up in Nathanson’s flamboyantly comic turn.
    — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2024
  • For a decade, the central drama of Trumpism has concerned the Republican élites who continued to support him—the story has been about their malignity, or opportunism, or willful moral blindness.
    — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023
Definition of malignity

Browse Nearby Words

malfunctions
malice
malicious
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Cite this Entry

“Malice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malice. Accessed 11 Apr. 2025.

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