malevolent

adjective

mə-ˈle-və-lənt How to pronounce malevolent (audio)
Definition of malevolentnext
as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the novel grossly oversimplified the conflict as a struggle between relentlessly malevolent villains on one side and faultless saints on the other

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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 malevolent The slow-burn thriller is partially based on a 17th century ballad in which the heroic outlaw’s cousin, a malevolent prioress, bleeds the older, ailing Robin to death under the guise of the ancient medical treatment known as bloodletting. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 22 June 2026 The difference between this Andrew Wilson and the one from Whatever was remarkable—as was the fact that Rogan was prepared to host the benevolent version without any apparent concern for the malevolent one. — Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026 Peter Gosselin Washington Moyn’s article and the accompanying cover photograph—showing old people as malevolent and evil—were not up to the usual standards of Harper’s Magazine. — Peter Gosselin, Harpers Magazine, 30 June 2026 The rapid rise of AI, while technologically dazzling, has prompted widespread anxieties on multiple fronts, including job security, human worth and potential misuse by malevolent actors looking to commit fraud, spread disinformation or foment hate. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolent
  1. malicious
  2. vicious
  3. cruel
  4. hateful
Adjective
  • According to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, 37-year-old Adam Mazur-Baker was arraigned Tuesday on one count of using a computer to commit a crime and one count of malicious use of telecommunications services.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • This command executes malicious code inside the AppleScript directly.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • This vicious machine chewed him up and spit him out in predictable fashion.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • The mood changed a bit when Tab Ramos took a vicious elbow to the side of his head and fractured his skull.
    — Gabriel Sama, Mercury News, 28 June 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • The heat has become so unbearable in Japan that weather officials in April announced a new term for days when maximum temperatures exceed 104 degrees — kokushobi, meaning harsh or cruel heat, according to the Japan Times.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • For thousands of Venezuelans, however, the lack of definitive answers has become one of the tragedy’s cruelest consequences.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • After about a month, when the social media and news backlash started to settle down, Johnson said the hateful comments stopped coming in.
    — Elijah Polance, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
  • White attributed most of the hateful comments to online agitators rather than true WNBA or Indiana Fever fans.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of hateful

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Cite this Entry

“Malevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malevolent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on malevolent

Nglish: Translation of malevolent for Spanish Speakers

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