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 Under federal law, the plaintiff must show that CNN acted with malice in its report. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 7 Jan. 2025 The nation needed a president who could hold the pieces together, waging war when it was thrust upon him, urging malice toward none when the situation--or state, or congressman, or issue--changed. —arkansasonline.com, 12 Feb. 2025 Donald Trump seems to prefer malice toward all and charity for none. —Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025 Admittedly law enforcement has a responsibility to labor without malice toward any individual or group. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 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
  • Common triggers include certain foods, some medications, insect venom and latex.
    — Maureen Mackey, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2025
  • The first is that his barbed interventions could signal the full-scale arrival in Europe of the kind of online venom, misinformation, and conspiracy theories – and the angry polarization – that have poisoned American politics.
    — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 30 Jan. 2025
Definition of venom
Noun
  • Democrats, blinded by their hatred of him, have ignored this.
    — Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Debra Messing, who has produced a new documentary on (horseshoe-theory) antisemitism called October 8, has been one of Hollywood’s few intensely admirable exceptions, calling out anti-Jewish hatred with a fierce constancy over the past 16 months.
    — Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Mar. 2025
Definition of hatred
Noun
  • Ex-College Soccer Player Accused of Killing Fellow Athlete Brother, Cat Using Knife, Golf Club: Prosecutors He was also charged with animal cruelty for allegedly killing a cat who lived in the apartment.
    — Christine Pelisek, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
  • He is also charged with third- and fourth-degree weapons charges related to possession of a golf club and knife, as well as animal cruelty related to the death of a family cat.
    — Audrey Conklin, Fox News, 25 Feb. 2025
Definition of cruelty
Noun
  • In spite of its high levels of salinity, Utah’s Great Salt Lake harbors all sorts of resident and migratory bird species throughout the year—and for anyone wishing to discover the rich biodiversity of the region firsthand, Antelope Island is the perfect spot.
    — Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025
  • The desire to avoid portraying her character’s actions as simply disgusting led de Van to play the lead role herself, in spite of the challenges that created for her as a first-time feature director.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2025
Definition of spite
Noun
  • Moreover, there are hints of malevolence at an even grander scale.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Feb. 2025
  • Or in the case of Polanski’s, of the Hey-nothing-personal malevolence of late-model capitalism?
    — Jim Shepard, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025
Definition of malevolence
Noun
  • The Russian foreign policy establishment always speculated that Europe would be most likely to eventually seek rapprochement with Moscow, while U.S. hostility to Russia was thought to be hard-wired.
    — Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Guy Pearce is an antagonistic delight wielding passive-aggressive hostility as the main character’s benefactor, and Felicity Jones, as the architect’s loyal wife, is the heart of the piece who steps up when her spouse can’t.
    — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 1 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

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Cite this Entry

“Malice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malice. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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