as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
the reviewer was criticized not for his negative review of the singer's album but for the malignance with which he expressed his disapproval of her lavish lifestyle
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Recent Examples of malignance
This is a movement that many progressives view as promising to reinvigorate hearts and minds, but that others warn may deliver different doses of theological malignance.
—
Audrey Clare Farley, The New Republic, 3 Jan. 2022
Where purity culture twists normal desires into malignance?
—Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2021
By definition Mishler’s content attracts people seeking refuge, but the exceptional malignance of 2020 has colored both her videos and the attitude of her fan base.
—New York Times, 25 Nov. 2020
Consequently, the growth disruption itself has exacerbated the cultural and economic malignance that helped create the underperforming trend in the first place.
—David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Audrey Clare Farley, The New Republic, 3 Jan. 2022
Where purity culture twists normal desires into malignance?
—Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2021
By definition Mishler’s content attracts people seeking refuge, but the exceptional malignance of 2020 has colored both her videos and the attitude of her fan base.
—New York Times, 25 Nov. 2020
Consequently, the growth disruption itself has exacerbated the cultural and economic malignance that helped create the underperforming trend in the first place.
—David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignance
Noun
-
Prosecutors could not prove malice in the case.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Some commenters did acknowledge a minority viewpoint, suggesting the conflict may stem from differing perspectives rather than malice.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
30 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Its deadly stinger was full of venom, much more potent and deadly than any snake.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
-
In a clip of Pole to Pole with Will Smith, obtained by LiveScience, the 57-year-old actor could be seen on a boat going down a river in Ecuador with venom expert Bryan Fry, expedition leader Carla Perez and Indigenous Waorani guides when the group notices a gigantic anaconda on the banks.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The American people must reject this cruelty and extremism.—
Ali Bauman,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Does their lack of kindness grant you permission to respond with equal insensitivity or even cruelty?—
Michael Isaacson,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Some viewers will know Rapaport from his decadeslong acting career but also that one very irritating season of Justified; others will know him for his anti-Palestinian rants and hatred of New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This is not to say that rape can be separated from the hatred of women, just that, in certain situations, the role of the victim can be violently reassigned.—
S. C. Cornell,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
An effective treatment for pancreatic cancer would represent a major advance against one of the most lethal malignancies.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The researchers will now investigate its efficacy in breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, melanoma and other malignancies, and fine tune delivery and dosage methods.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malignance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignance. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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