malevolent
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ma·lev·o·lent

adjective \mə-ˈle-və-lənt\

Definition of MALEVOLENT

1
: having, showing, or arising from intense often vicious ill will, spite, or hatred
2
: productive of harm or evil
ma·lev·o·lent·ly adverb

Examples of MALEVOLENT

  1. <the novel grossly oversimplified the conflict as a struggle between relentlessly malevolent villains on one side and faultless saints on the other>
  2. There was no acknowledgment of the effects of cycle upon cycle of malevolent defeat, of the injury of seeing one generation rise above the cusp of poverty only to be indignantly crushed, of the impact of repeating tsunamis of violence … —Douglas A. Blackmon, Slavery By Another Name, 2008

Origin of MALEVOLENT

Latin malevolent-, malevolens, from male badly + volent-, volens, present participle of velle to wish — more at mal-, will
First Known Use: 1509

Rhymes with MALEVOLENT

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