ill will

noun

: unfriendly feeling

Choose the Right Synonym for ill will

malice, malevolence, ill will, spite, malignity, spleen, grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress.

malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

Examples of ill will in a Sentence

We bear no ill will toward each other.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their interactions are bound to the home, where he is haunted by the ghost of her influence, criticism and ill will, before and after her death. —Hunter Ingram, Variety, 6 June 2026

Soccer star Ashlyn Harris says there's no ill will toward ex-wife and former teammate Ali Krieger. —Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026

But that’s unlikely to resolve the ill will that’s come up since Gaspar publicly warned of more than 100 layoffs — and Democratic leaders replied by calling for an audit of school finances. —Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026

There's no ill will or hard feelings from me. —Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ill will

• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill
• dunghill
• foothill
• fulfil
• fulfill
• goodwill

Kids Definition

ill will

noun

: unfriendly feeling