as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
one of the characters in the novel is a cruel oppressor of such malignity that he came to be one of the most famous villains in all of literature
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of malignity
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
Though Bilger does not quite say so, his grandfather emerges as a case study in the capacity for compartmentalization that is arguably more destructive of morality than outright malignity.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
In a landscape of such confused malignity as capital-p Publishing, who actually suffers from an act like June’s?
—Zoe Hu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023
American exceptionalism has two faces, equally transfixed with a sense of specialness—one radiant with the nation’s unique beneficence, the other sunk in its unrivaled malignity.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2022
Modernist malignity has long been a topic of discussion in architectural circles.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2022
Where Moyn is driven by a photonegative of American exceptionalism—a sense that American power is a singular force of malignity in the world—Arkin is concerned that this perpetual-war machine is at odds with America’s strategic interests.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021
Decades of miserable history had to pass before the comedy buried within their malignity was revealed, like a vein of ore uncovered by a natural catastrophe.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2019
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
Though Bilger does not quite say so, his grandfather emerges as a case study in the capacity for compartmentalization that is arguably more destructive of morality than outright malignity.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
In a landscape of such confused malignity as capital-p Publishing, who actually suffers from an act like June’s?
—Zoe Hu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023
American exceptionalism has two faces, equally transfixed with a sense of specialness—one radiant with the nation’s unique beneficence, the other sunk in its unrivaled malignity.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2022
Modernist malignity has long been a topic of discussion in architectural circles.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2022
Where Moyn is driven by a photonegative of American exceptionalism—a sense that American power is a singular force of malignity in the world—Arkin is concerned that this perpetual-war machine is at odds with America’s strategic interests.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021
Decades of miserable history had to pass before the comedy buried within their malignity was revealed, like a vein of ore uncovered by a natural catastrophe.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignity
Noun
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Jose Ibarra was convicted Nov. 20, 2024 of malice murder, three counts of felony murder and assault with intent to rape, among other charges, in Athens-Clarke County Superior Court.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
20 Mar. 2025
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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
Noun
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Its identity can help ensure correct venom is prescribed.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA TODAY,
14 Mar. 2025
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They are known as some of the most dangerous animals in the sea due to their extremely powerful venom, and several people in Australia have died after being bitten by one, according to the Australian Museum.—
Jack Guy,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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On Wednesday morning, David Reid, 28, of Winsted turned himself in at police headquarters and was arrested on an outstanding warrant charging him with one count of cruelty to animals.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
20 Mar. 2025
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Kelly Walker, 29, is charged with child abuse, cruelty to animals and the killing and torture of an animal.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Even if those two men didn’t make it out of Europe alive, the unspeakable acts carried out in the name of Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich would still live on in infamy, reminding humanity what blind hatred and xenophobia could lead to if a society wasn’t careful.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
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Venerable baby boomer Kevin Bacon plays the titular bounty hunter Hub Halloran, a proud Georgia man with little tolerance for tomfoolery and a hatred of the Red Sox.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA TODAY,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malignity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignity. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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