MALICE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'malice' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of malice are grudge , ill will , malevolence , malignity , spite , and spleen . While all these words 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

Q: When is 'grudge' a more appropriate choice than 'malice'?

Although the words grudge and malice have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction. // never one to harbor a grudge

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ill will' instead of 'malice'?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration. // ill will provoked by a careless remark

Q: Where would 'malevolence' be a reasonable alternative to 'malice'?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct. // a look of dark malevolence

Q: In what contexts can 'malignity' take the place of 'malice'?

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness. // a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Q: When would 'spite' be a good substitute for 'malice'?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments. // petty insults inspired by spite

Q: When might 'spleen' be a better fit than 'malice'?

While the synonyms spleen and malice are close in meaning, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice. // venting his spleen against politicians

malice

noun

ˈma-ləs

Definition of malice next

as in venom

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm there was no reason other than pure malice to spread such disgusting lies all over campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun malice differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of malice are grudge, ill will, malevolence, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words 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

When is grudge a more appropriate choice than malice?

Although the words grudge and malice have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is it sensible to use ill will instead of malice?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

Where would malevolence be a reasonable alternative to malice?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

In what contexts can malignity take the place of malice?

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When would spite be a good substitute for malice?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

When might spleen be a better fit than malice?

While the synonyms spleen and malice are close in meaning, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of malice For such a plaintiff to succeed, their defamation claim must meet a standard of actual malice — either knowing the statements were false or showing a reckless disregard for the truth. —

Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2026 Jurors found that Grossman and Erickson both acted with conscious disregard for the boys' safety and malice, thereby awarding punitive damages in the wrongful death lawsuit. —

Julie Sharp, CBS News, 10 June 2026 Jurors decided that Grossman acted with malice and oppression and Erickson acted with malice, oppression, or fraud, kicking off the punitive phase of the trial. —

Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026 The panel also found that Grossman and Erickson acted with malice, triggering a punitive damages phase of the trial. —

City News Service, Daily News, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for malice

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malice

Noun

One common misconception is that lionfish are inedible because of their venom.

— Rachel Nuwer, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026
Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis have been reported in patients using bee venom therapy.

— Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 19 June 2026

Definition of venom

Noun

Police investigations showed that the pair are suspected of displaying seditious items and selling publications with seditious content inside the shop, including materials inciting hatred against the city's government, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies, the government said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
Not drinking seemed to me synonymous with a hatred of pleasure, a fascist quest for purity.

— Sarah Miller, New Yorker, 20 June 2026

Definition of hatred

Noun

Trump’s narcissistic obsession with the place, together with the miasmic hatefulness of his words and actions, has caused artists to flee en masse.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026
Comment sections have always attracted hatefulness and resentment; these ones just happen to encourage it more explicitly.

— Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025

Definition of hatefulness

Noun

Sometimes the irony turns bitter and, with a typically Eastern European sensibility, highlights the paradoxes of institutions, as well as the madness and meanness born from the pursuit and preservation of power.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
After 1965, when African Americans’ right to vote was constitutionally recognized, the meanness continued.

— Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026

Definition of meanness

Noun

The result is a disturbing chiasmus: the whimsy of malevolence, the malevolence of whimsy.

— Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
The rise of Santa Muerte The other folk saint tied to narco culture is Santa Muerte, whose Grim Reaper appearance and relative obscurity prompt assumptions of malevolence.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 7 June 2026