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
For Max in particular, his parent’s lifelong humorless severity looks more and more like malevolent delusion under a cloak of puritanical righteousness.
—
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 July 2025
Liam sounds ferociously on-form, his nasal snarl infused with a malevolent purr.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 5 July 2025
But that therapeutic reaction can only be achieved if the heel is effectively malevolent enough that fans want the babyface to dish out comeuppance.
—Marc Raimondi
june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
Sarah Connor would never embrace the malevolent AI that tormented her in its quest to destroy humanity.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 11 July 2025
Liam sounds ferociously on-form, his nasal snarl infused with a malevolent purr.
—Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 5 July 2025
But that therapeutic reaction can only be achieved if the heel is effectively malevolent enough that fans want the babyface to dish out comeuppance.
—Marc Raimondi
june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025
Sarah Connor would never embrace the malevolent AI that tormented her in its quest to destroy humanity.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolent
Adjective
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Attacks are now surging across the U.S., targeting citizens with malicious texts, emails and popups.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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Because the malicious screen is transparent, there are no visual cues to suggest anything suspicious is happening.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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There was a scary moment later in the third quarter when Charlotte’s James Banks III hit Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell with a vicious elbow to the face.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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Each of us should demand our local leaders challenge every one of the immoral and cruel state laws and the Gestapo-like raids and inhumane detainments carried out by ICE agents.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
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Even critics who considered his policies cruel and racist – and there were many – admitted that behind the bluster there was the charm of a true believer.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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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
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His otherwise incomparable legacy will forever be stained by his hateful remarks about Black people.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malevolent. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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