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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Recent Examples of malevolent
Her first book, Your Presence is Requested at Suvanto, brought us to a Finnish convalescent hospital, and left us in the arms of a malevolent surgeon.
—
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The list includes a narrative that is negative, malevolent, anti-Jensen Huang, and, for the selfish purposes of yours truly, oppositional to the trust’s portfolio.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Published by Electronic Arts (EA), the game follows authors Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster who become trapped in the fictional world of their books by a malevolent machine.
—Marc Saltzman, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The episode begins in 1908 with a less-malevolent, non-supernatural Pennywise the Dancing Clown performing for a delighted audience of children.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
The list includes a narrative that is negative, malevolent, anti-Jensen Huang, and, for the selfish purposes of yours truly, oppositional to the trust’s portfolio.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2025
Published by Electronic Arts (EA), the game follows authors Mio Hudson and Zoe Foster who become trapped in the fictional world of their books by a malevolent machine.
—Marc Saltzman, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
The episode begins in 1908 with a less-malevolent, non-supernatural Pennywise the Dancing Clown performing for a delighted audience of children.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolent
Adjective
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The Russian general was one of several GRU officials sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for wide-ranging malicious cyber activity directed at undermining US democratic processes.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Catherine’s brother Hindley, a vicious bully whose abuse is part of what drives Cathy and Heathcliff so closely together, is cut entirely, his role combined with Catherine’s father.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
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Everyone is fair game for her vicious tongue.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Said quest forces her to reexamine a revelatory affair with an RAF pilot, and consider how their engagement’s cruel ending set her on the path to a different sort of fulfillment.—
Hayley Maitland,
Vogue,
14 Feb. 2026
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Government should tame the savageness of man and make life in this world more gentle, not crueler.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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This is not the first time that Peacock has taken to social media to ask viewers to refrain from sending hateful messages.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Jan. 2026
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Since 2004, Orange County also has been predominantly nonwhite, but some conservative families, such as Woodward’s, bond over a hateful ideology.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malevolent. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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