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
In that great play, part of the pleasure is teasing out when the host couple, George and Martha, are playing a malevolent prank on their guests or tearing each other apart for real.
—
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
There’s plenty of palace intrigue, bloody battle sequences, and a showdown with the Dauphin (a malevolent Robert Pattinson), marking a bold departure from Chalamet’s previous artsy roles.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
For reasons unknown — maybe the lil’ guy was cursed by a Roma traveler, or became possessed by malevolent spirits previously loitering in a fancy Colorado hotel, or simply hung out too long with an evil clown who lives in the sewer — the automaton’s musical chops causes mayhem and carnage.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
Thus malevolent dolls stalk horror directors’ nightmares, from Chucky to Annabelle to M3gan.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
There’s plenty of palace intrigue, bloody battle sequences, and a showdown with the Dauphin (a malevolent Robert Pattinson), marking a bold departure from Chalamet’s previous artsy roles.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2025
For reasons unknown — maybe the lil’ guy was cursed by a Roma traveler, or became possessed by malevolent spirits previously loitering in a fancy Colorado hotel, or simply hung out too long with an evil clown who lives in the sewer — the automaton’s musical chops causes mayhem and carnage.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Feb. 2025
Thus malevolent dolls stalk horror directors’ nightmares, from Chucky to Annabelle to M3gan.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolent
Adjective
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Jose Velasquez-Martinez, 27, is charged with malicious wounding and murder in connection with 29-year-old Brandon Probst's death in Warrenton, according to the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office.—
Audrey Conklin,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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There is evidence of motivated malicious actors abusing the 'verified account' to deceive users.—
Jon Brodkin,
ArsTechnica,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Softened by pride, Amber slinks away herself, albeit much more cutely than Gregory and accompanied by a vicious side-eye.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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The Kansas City Glory’s season opener was set to begin on Saturday afternoon, but viral sensation Elena Easley was sitting on the field, experiencing a vicious headache.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
30 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Everybody else has no choice, really, other than to bring a cruel, narcissistic far-right leader to power.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
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Jokes that didn’t land with the squad The kids in Bad Influence say the pranks were the most cruel.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Utah has become a hateful place, guest columnist ML Cavanaugh writes.—
Ryan Fonseca,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Apr. 2025
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Maryland’s Salvadoran community relives surge in hateful rhetoric When a wave of Salvadorans first migrated to Maryland, there was a stereotype that they were affiliated with gangs like MS-13, Perez said.—
Polo Sandoval,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malevolent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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