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

Is there too much ill will towards Marvel in the intervening years to see Doomsday do a significant number? —Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 24 Nov. 2025

Lindsay made clear there was no ill will toward the Panthers, but said the team wasn’t looking at the bigger picture. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 23 Nov. 2025

The king, sources say, wanted to respond to make clear to Meghan that there was no ill will or bias. —Jack Royston, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025

If there was still any speculation that the Rare Beauty founder might harbor ill will toward the VS Angel, the sweet praise surely put it to bed. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 16 Oct. 2025

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