as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the novel grossly oversimplified the conflict as a struggle between relentlessly malevolent villains on one side and faultless saints on the other
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Recent Examples of malevolent
Becca’s disintegration emphasizes the parts of her that endure; the avatar, on the other hand, is a parody of that real flesh, an uncanny and malevolent imitation.
—
Alexandra Kleeman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
His greatest foe was a malevolent being known as The Void, which is actually a facet of his own repressed psyche.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The morning light around him looking weirdly malevolent, a young man stumbles to the door of a small country church, swinging the remains of a guitar in one hand.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit, she is convinced is trying to take her baby.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Alexandra Kleeman, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
His greatest foe was a malevolent being known as The Void, which is actually a facet of his own repressed psyche.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025
The morning light around him looking weirdly malevolent, a young man stumbles to the door of a small country church, swinging the remains of a guitar in one hand.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
But what should be a joyous time of their lives becomes sinister when Sarah starts seeing a malevolent spirit, she is convinced is trying to take her baby.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malevolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malevolent
Adjective
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Enhances visibility and control of network traffic and user activities and detects and blocks malicious activities.—
Mickey Singh,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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The malicious URLs outputted in the response are in clickable form, meaning all a user has to do is click one to be taken to a malicious site.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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The original 2006 film, which was adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s book of the same name, starred Meryl Streep as the powerful Miranda Priestley, Anne Hathaway as fashion newbie Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as vicious assistant Emily and Stanley Tucci as Miranda’s right hand man Nigel.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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The synopsis reads: Prom season at Shadyside High is underway and the school’s wolfpack of It Girls is busy with its usual sweet and vicious campaigns for the crown.—
DeVonne Goode,
Parents,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
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At first the program seems to be benign, but Hayakawa’s film steadily reveals how the policy thrives on the cruel capitalist tenet that people are disposable.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2025
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Despite the hateful rhetoric from left-wing Democrats fighting Trump’s efforts, Trump and his dream team won’t back down.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malevolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malevolent. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
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