ill will

noun

Definition of ill willnext
as in hostility
an unfriendly feeling; a feeling of dislike We bear no ill will toward each other.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ill will differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ill will are grudge, malevolence, malice, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

Where would grudge be a reasonable alternative to ill will?

Although the words grudge and ill will 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 malevolence a more appropriate choice than ill will?

The synonyms malevolence and ill will are sometimes interchangeable, but malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

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

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

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When would malignity be a good substitute for ill will?

The words malignity and ill will are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When can spite be used instead of ill will?

In some situations, the words spite and ill will 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 ill will?

The meanings of spleen and ill will largely overlap; however, 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 ill will While there might be ill will between the two fanbases, there certainly isn’t any animosity between the two teams. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 24 Mar. 2025 But the sheer breadth of pre-release ill will it’s accumulated, across such a broad swath of the political spectrum, feels almost impressive. —Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025 The resulting ill will played no small part in his decision not to run for reelection in 2019. —Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 20 Mar. 2025 Celebrity News The internet suspects some ill will between the two lifestyle mavens. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ill will
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill will
  1. hostility
  2. malice
  3. grudge
  4. cruelty
Noun
  • When expectant fathers face hostility or subtle exclusion at work, the consequences can extend beyond their own careers.
    — Kim Elsesser, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Questions were raised over Putin’s motives in calling the brief halt to hostilities, which came just after the Trump administration threatened to abandon peace efforts without tangible signs of progress.
    — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • This is not someone who is going to kill someone out of malice.
    — Maureen Maher, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2025
  • These steps are particularly important when installing extensions or apps from Google, given the much higher incidence of malice being reported over the past decade from its offerings.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of malice
Noun
  • An armed man accused of walking into a Walgreens location in California and shooting an employee to death this week allegedly had a grudge against corporate pharmacies, police said.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Theater owners gathered inside the Colosseum Theater at Caesar’s Palace on Monday didn’t seem to hold any grudges, and gave a warm welcome to the exec.
    — Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of grudge
Noun
  • There’s a great line: Honesty without compassion equals cruelty.
    — Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
  • In each of these films, cruelty commingles with tenderness, and hideous acts take place against backdrops of often stunning natural beauty.
    — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
Definition of cruelty

Browse Nearby Words

illustriousness
ill will
ill-wisher
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Cite this Entry

“Ill will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ill%20will. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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