malice

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 Assistant District Attorney Alan Martin was confident the state would prove that Molly and Tom murdered Jason with malice. Maureen Maher, CBS News, 24 Apr. 2025 Colt has been indicted on 55 felony counts, including four counts of malice murder, according to court documents, and has pleaded not guilty. Devon M. Sayers, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 Without it, little remained but his malice, his pettiness, and his insatiable appetite for revenge. Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 And just a few hours later, Melody Farris was found guilty on all five counts against her, including malice murder, felony murder and making false statements. Susan Mallie, CBS News, 26 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for malice
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malice
Noun
  • At another point, he’s forced to fight while on a psychedelic trip after ingesting toad venom.
    Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 7 May 2025
  • For example, in Papua New Guinea, most of the snakes produce neurotoxic venom.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The project educates students about the dangers of hatred and bigotry and the importance of standing against all forms of prejudice.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 15 May 2025
  • Meanwhile, Republicans such as our current president spew contempt like volcanoes of hatred, prejudice and madness.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
Noun
  • On Tuesday, May 20, the Orange County District Attorney's Office confirmed in a press release that Alejandro Acosta Oliveros was charged with felony animal cruelty and felony theft of a companion animal.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 May 2025
  • Today, the Trump Administration’s theatre of cruelty toward immigrants can be traced to any number of root causes, including racist nostalgia, economic insecurity, and far-right Christian nationalism.
    Michael Luo, New Yorker, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • China’s rapidly increasing demand for emissions-free nuclear power and Russia’s historical relationship with Astana in the nuclear sector put them both in an advantageous position to pursue further involvement in spite of Kazakhstan’s purposeful pivot to the West.
    Ariel Cohen, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025
  • In spite of decades of funding increases and words of support from the Oval Office, Head Start has rarely—if ever—been sufficiently funded.
    Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Ocean's big bad is casino owner Terry Benedict, played with the perfect amount of oily malevolence by Oscar nominee Andy García.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 3 May 2025
  • At others, there are undertones of malevolence, potential violence.
    Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 16 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Ultimately, restrictions on vacant CPS property sales are part of a broader problem, and that’s education officials’ open hostility toward alternative education models.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 14 May 2025
  • Then a decade of talks crashed into President Trump’s hostility toward Canada.
    Karen Weise, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Noun
  • His Cyrano is the play’s hero, even if the character’s psychological limitations are as much a factor in the story as the machinations of De Guiche, whose malignity is sent up in Nathanson’s flamboyantly comic turn.
    Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2024
  • For a decade, the central drama of Trumpism has concerned the Republican élites who continued to support him—the story has been about their malignity, or opportunism, or willful moral blindness.
    Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Malice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malice. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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