as in malicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
a malignant wish to lash out at everyone who was smarter, richer, or better-looking than he was
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Recent Examples of malignant
In the latest check-up following the surgery, Netanyahu revealed in a statement on social media that doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his prostate of less than a centimeter.
—
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Friends of Jaclyn was inspired by Murphy’s daughter, a nine-year-old lacrosse player in New York who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2004.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Human disease may be acute, chronic, malignant, or benign, and it is usually indicated by signs and symptoms such as fever or vomiting.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2000, Norris Church Mailer was diagnosed with a malignant gastrointestinal tumor.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Friends of Jaclyn was inspired by Murphy’s daughter, a nine-year-old lacrosse player in New York who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2004.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Human disease may be acute, chronic, malignant, or benign, and it is usually indicated by signs and symptoms such as fever or vomiting.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2000, Norris Church Mailer was diagnosed with a malignant gastrointestinal tumor.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Court records show that 31-year-old Xin Tong was charged with malicious destruction of a building over $20,000 and operating/maintaining a lab involving methamphetamine.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The betrayal of Zambada sparked a vicious battle for control of the Sinaloa cartel that has resulted in thousands of deaths.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
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Back in 2023, he was suspended during the playoffs for a vicious cross-check to the head of Vegas Golden Knights captain Mark Stone.—
Matt Reigle OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even his students can be casually cruel to each other, emulating a president that Artie almost cannot fathom.—
John Warner,
Chicago Tribune,
2 May 2026
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Baseball is a sport built on failure surrounded by a cruel, cynical business, but this level of irony is almost too rich to digest.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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An investigation is underway into hateful graffiti in a Long Island neighborhood.—
Jenna DeAngelis,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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His humor is far more hateful than clever at this point.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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During the Braves’ recent trip to Philadelphia, Kyle Farmer came down with a nasty illness possibly brought on by norovirus.—
Chad Bishop,
AJC.com,
1 May 2026
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Mfume has not joined in the negative attack game, but Conway, like other failing candidates, has decided his only political pathway is simply to run a nasty and divisive campaign.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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