as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
the reviewer was criticized not for his negative review of the singer's album but for the malignance with which he expressed his disapproval of her lavish lifestyle
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Recent Examples of malignance
This is a movement that many progressives view as promising to reinvigorate hearts and minds, but that others warn may deliver different doses of theological malignance.
—
Audrey Clare Farley, The New Republic, 3 Jan. 2022
Where purity culture twists normal desires into malignance?
—Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2021
By definition Mishler’s content attracts people seeking refuge, but the exceptional malignance of 2020 has colored both her videos and the attitude of her fan base.
—New York Times, 25 Nov. 2020
Consequently, the growth disruption itself has exacerbated the cultural and economic malignance that helped create the underperforming trend in the first place.
—David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Audrey Clare Farley, The New Republic, 3 Jan. 2022
Where purity culture twists normal desires into malignance?
—Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2021
By definition Mishler’s content attracts people seeking refuge, but the exceptional malignance of 2020 has colored both her videos and the attitude of her fan base.
—New York Times, 25 Nov. 2020
Consequently, the growth disruption itself has exacerbated the cultural and economic malignance that helped create the underperforming trend in the first place.
—David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignance
Noun
-
The 27-year-old was initially charged with malice murder, but it was downgraded to voluntary manslaughter as part of the plea agreement.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
-
Left unguided, students may misuse AI not out of malice, but confusion.—
Dr. Aviva Legatt,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
Noun
-
They are mangled, bottled spiders of venom with humor and cutting, biting Irish lyricism.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
5 June 2025
-
Although the snakes prefer to hide or scare away humans, people who get too close may suffer a painful bite carrying venom that can damage muscle tissue and skin.—
Max Levy,
Denver Post,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
But by holding the threat of losing access to your grandchildren over you, your kids are showing an unnecessary amount of cruelty to people (you) who don’t deserve it.—
Eric Thomas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 June 2025
-
There will always be injustice, cruelty and abuses of power.—
Starr Bowenbank,
People.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
-
But his hatred only a means to an end, and that end his his own glorification.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
8 June 2025
-
When the topic of Clark came up in discussion, Braun was hopeful that the apparent hatred against Clark, and throughout the association and its fans, could come to an end, while siding with Banks.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Those who have genetic or hereditary prostate cancer may have malignancies appear earlier or grow at a faster rate.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
19 May 2025
-
That an 82-year-old man who had aged out of prostate-cancer-screening tests has been found to have an advanced malignancy should not be surprising.—
Benjamin Mazer,
The Atlantic,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malignance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignance. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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