What is another word for malevolent?

Pronunciation: [məlˈɛvələnt] (IPA)

Malevolent is typically used to describe someone or something that has an evil or harmful intent. There are a variety of synonyms that can also convey this same meaning, including words like wicked, malicious, spiteful, and vindictive. Other options might include terms like maleficent, which is often used in more literary contexts, or baleful, which describes something that is potentially dangerous or threatening. Ultimately, the choice of synonym will depend on the specific context and tone of the sentence, as well as the writer's personal style and preferences. Regardless of the word chosen, though, it should convey a sense of malicious or harmful intent.

Synonyms for Malevolent:

What are the paraphrases for Malevolent?

Paraphrases are restatements of text or speech using different words and phrasing to convey the same meaning.
Paraphrases are highlighted according to their relevancy:
- highest relevancy
- medium relevancy
- lowest relevancy

What are the hypernyms for Malevolent?

A hypernym is a word with a broad meaning that encompasses more specific words called hyponyms.

What are the opposite words for malevolent?

Malevolent refers to showing ill will, causing harm or intending to do bad things. Some suitable antonyms for malevolent include benevolent, kind-hearted and compassionate. Benevolent describes someone or something that acts with kindness and goodwill towards people. Kind-hearted means having a warm and sympathetic nature, and showing concern for others. Compassionate refers to a person who is understanding, and who wishes to alleviate suffering or distress. These antonyms possess qualities that are beneficial and positive, in contrast to malevolent which describes negative and harmful behavior. By using antonyms like benevolent, kind-hearted and compassionate, we can emphasize the positive aspects of human behavior, and convey a sense of positivity to our message.

Usage examples for Malevolent

The horse was the most ignoble, malevolent beast that ever walked, except the sergeant-major in the riding-school.
"The Rough Road"
William John Locke
His guide was looking at him with an expression of open, malevolent triumph.
"Brand Blotters"
William MacLeod Raine
"That'll be enough from you now, Phil," said the old ex-Confederate good-naturedly, leading him toward the house and trying to soothe his malevolent chagrin.
"Brand Blotters"
William MacLeod Raine

Famous quotes with Malevolent

  • Outside the walls, among others, is the Soviet Empire. It is malevolent, destructive and expanding. It has swallowed up over half a dozen countries since World War II.
    Barbara Amiel
  • When kindness has left people, even for a few moments, we become afraid of them as if their reason had left them. When it has left a place where we have always found it, it is like shipwreck; we drop from security into something malevolent and bottomless.
    Willa Cather
  • All the dark, malevolent Passions of the Soul are roused and exerted; its mild and amiable affections are suppressed; and with them, virtuous Principles are laid prostrate.
    Charles Inglis
  • For nobody is curious, who isn't malevolent.
    Plautus
  • ...but he distinctly remembered standing at the house door one summer morning in a passionate outburst of rebellion against going to school. Naturally his mother was the immediate victim of his rage; that is what mothers are for, and boys also; but in this case the boy had his mother at unfair disadvantage, for she was a guest, and had no means of enforcing obedience. Henry showed a certain tactical ability by refusing to start, and he met all efforts at compulsion by successful, though too vehement protest. He was in fair way to win, and was holding his own, with sufficient energy, at the bottom of the long staircase which led up to the door of the President's library, when the door opened, and the old man slowly came down. Putting on his hat, he took the boy's hand without a word, and walked with him, paralyzed by awe, up the road to the town. After the first moments of consternation at this interference in a domestic dispute, the boy reflected that an old gentleman close on eighty would never trouble himself to walk near a mile on a hot summer morning over a shadeless road to take a boy to school, and that it would be strange if a lad imbued with the passion of freedom could not find a corner to dodge around, somewhere before reaching the school door. Then and always, the boy insisted that this reasoning justified his apparent submission; but the old man did not stop, and the boy saw all his strategical points turned, one after another, until he found himself seated inside the school, and obviously the centre of curious if not malevolent criticism. Not till then did the President release his hand and depart.
    Henry Adams

Word of the Day

Pyrrolidonecarboxylic Acid
Pyrrolidonecarboxylic acid, commonly known as PCA, is a chemical compound frequently utilized in various industries. However, it is beneficial to be aware of alternative names or s...