as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
one of the characters in the novel is a cruel oppressor of such malignity that he came to be one of the most famous villains in all of literature
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Recent Examples of malignity
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
Though Bilger does not quite say so, his grandfather emerges as a case study in the capacity for compartmentalization that is arguably more destructive of morality than outright malignity.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
In a landscape of such confused malignity as capital-p Publishing, who actually suffers from an act like June’s?
—Zoe Hu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023
American exceptionalism has two faces, equally transfixed with a sense of specialness—one radiant with the nation’s unique beneficence, the other sunk in its unrivaled malignity.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2022
Modernist malignity has long been a topic of discussion in architectural circles.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2022
Where Moyn is driven by a photonegative of American exceptionalism—a sense that American power is a singular force of malignity in the world—Arkin is concerned that this perpetual-war machine is at odds with America’s strategic interests.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021
Decades of miserable history had to pass before the comedy buried within their malignity was revealed, like a vein of ore uncovered by a natural catastrophe.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2019
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
Though Bilger does not quite say so, his grandfather emerges as a case study in the capacity for compartmentalization that is arguably more destructive of morality than outright malignity.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
In a landscape of such confused malignity as capital-p Publishing, who actually suffers from an act like June’s?
—Zoe Hu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023
American exceptionalism has two faces, equally transfixed with a sense of specialness—one radiant with the nation’s unique beneficence, the other sunk in its unrivaled malignity.
—George Packer, The Atlantic, 21 Nov. 2022
Modernist malignity has long been a topic of discussion in architectural circles.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2022
Where Moyn is driven by a photonegative of American exceptionalism—a sense that American power is a singular force of malignity in the world—Arkin is concerned that this perpetual-war machine is at odds with America’s strategic interests.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2021
Decades of miserable history had to pass before the comedy buried within their malignity was revealed, like a vein of ore uncovered by a natural catastrophe.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignity
Noun
-
Most action items die from forgetfulness, not malice.—
Ishaan Agarwal,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The incident was reported on July 11 at Fahey’s home where the two men from New York were arrested on voyeurism with malice, first-degree criminal trespassing and second-degree breach of peace charges.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
18 July 2025
Noun
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Guitarist Tom Bukovac composed a flowing instrumental riff to open the performance, creating a little extra sweetness that helps hide the passive-aggressive venom.—
Tom Roland,
Billboard,
24 July 2025
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Though a bite from any rattlesnake is dangerous and should be treated immediately, the Mojave rattlesnake packs one of the most potent venoms with a nasty neurotoxic twist that can affect your nervous system.—
Shelby Slade,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Conversely, Colum, devastated by his disability, has a pension for cruelty.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
31 July 2025
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Not to spoil anything, but the message is that the only cure for cruelty is not revenge, but decency.—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
30 July 2025
Noun
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Many were subjected to many forms of hatred spawned from these misunderstandings.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
21 July 2025
-
Despite his extensive progressive bona fides, Wertham’s hatred of the comics medium has forever branded him a right-wing zealot in the minds of comic fans.—
Vasilis K. Pozios,
HollywoodReporter,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malignity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignity. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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