malevolent
[məˈlɛvələnt]
A malevolent person or thing has bad intentions and causes harm to others.
When we think about someone who's being mean-spirited or causing trouble, we might call them malevolent. For example, a character in a book or movie could be described as malevolent if they're plotting to hurt the main characters. In real life, we might use this word to describe someone who's spreading rumors or causing problems for no good reason. We also see malevolent when we talk about forces like evil spirits or supernatural powers that are out to cause harm.
How common is "malevolent"?
Word malevolent is considered rare in modern English.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
It has a balanced usage among all categories: speech, fiction, newspapers and academic texts.
Definitions
adjective
Having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others
benevolent
Real examples of "malevolent" in context
