malevolent
muh-LEV-uh-luhnt
/məˈlev.əl.ənt/
Having or showing a wish to do evil or harm to others.
Focuses on the disposition or nature of wishing ill upon people, often with an eerie or sinister tone.
The story behind the word. From Latin 'malevolens', created by pairing 'male' (ill, badly) with 'volens' (present participle of 'velle', meaning to wish). A malevolent person is literally 'one who wishes bad things upon others'.
Word relationships
- malicious: Malicious focuses on performing harm out of spite, whereas malevolent describes a dark, evil nature or desire.
- baleful: Baleful emphasizes a threatening or deadly appearance or effect, while malevolent focuses on the evil intent itself.
- benevolent: Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly (wishing good upon others).
- benign: Benign means gentle, kindly, or harmless.
Commonly confused with
- benevolent: Benevolent means wishing good (bene = good), while malevolent means wishing evil (male = bad).
Word family
- malevolence (noun): The state or quality of wishing evil on others.
- malevolently (adverb): In a malevolent manner.
Collocations
- malevolent spirit
- malevolent intent
- malevolent gaze
Example sentences
- "A malevolent force seemed to pervade the old mansion, chilling everyone who entered." Supernatural horror
- "Behind his polite smile lurked a malevolent ambition to destroy his rivals." Character description
Memory hook
MAL (evil) + VOLENT (like a VOLCANO of bad wishes). Wishing evil upon others.
When not to use
Do not use for accidental harm or simple carelessness; intentional desire to harm is required.
Fun facts
- The direct exact opposite of malevolent is benevolent, formed from 'bene' (well) and 'velle' (to wish).
Explore more words
malevolence, malicious, malign, spiteful, malignant, malediction
Also appears in
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