as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a malignant wish to lash out at everyone who was smarter, richer, or better-looking than he was
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 malignant
Chief among them is Jesse, who is giving Jax Taylor a run for his money in the malignant narcissist department.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 May 2025
By adding a photo of an ICE arrest to a light-hearted viral trend, for instance, the White House account manages to perfectly capture the sociopathic, fascistic tone of ironic detachment and glee of the internet’s darkest corners and most malignant trolls.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
These tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
—Laura Schober, Health, 20 Mar. 2025
There is just too much market demand for evidence that Trump and his works are wholly malignant.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 May 2025
By adding a photo of an ICE arrest to a light-hearted viral trend, for instance, the White House account manages to perfectly capture the sociopathic, fascistic tone of ironic detachment and glee of the internet’s darkest corners and most malignant trolls.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2025
These tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
—Laura Schober, Health, 20 Mar. 2025
There is just too much market demand for evidence that Trump and his works are wholly malignant.
—The Editors, National Review, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
-
Cybercriminals often scan inactive IP ranges, using them for various malicious activities.—
Vincentas Grinius,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The presenters will also explain how businesses can fend off malicious adtech with effective network monitoring.—
Neil J. Rubenking,
PC Magazine,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Not to mention, antibiotics aren’t always effective at killing drug-resistant bugs, and each UTI leaves you more susceptible to future infections, creating a vicious cycle.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
1 Aug. 2025
-
Coming less than a year after the fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in the same neighborhood, which was widely regarded as an assassination motivated by contempt for the American health insurance industry, LePatner’s death prompted a similarly vicious response on social media.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
1 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
A little more than a year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a decision from the Ninth Circuit that determined a ban on people sleeping in public was constitutionally cruel and unusual.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
29 July 2025
-
In an inordinately cowardly and cruel act, Rubio stayed away from the department that day, ignoring the men and women whose careers and life plans were decimated by his flippant decision-making.—
Lynn Northcutt Vega,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
Adjective
-
Late in the episode, Cartman calls off his suicide attempt after Butters helps convince him that there’s always hope for a return to the world where Cartman’s hateful trollery will again be a minority voice pushing back against the mainstream.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
24 July 2025
-
His otherwise incomparable legacy will forever be stained by his hateful remarks about Black people.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Robinson was on the receiving end of a nasty collision with outside linebacker Brian Burns on Friday.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
-
After dropping Monday’s opener to the Twins – following a nasty delay between the top and bottom of the ninth – the Red Sox got right back on the horse.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share