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malignant

adjective

mə-ˈlig-nənt How to pronounce malignant (audio)
Definition of malignantnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 malignant Alcohol played a major role in deaths from malignant tumors in the head and neck, including lip, oral cavity, pharynx, larynx and cancer of the esophagus. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026 Amabile revealed in July that he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after receiving results from an MRI. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Sep. 2026 Busy Philipps underwent two invasive surgeries this spring related to a malignant tumor in her brain. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 The tumor was an oligodendroglioma, a malignant tumor defined by two genetic alterations. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
  1. malicious
  2. vicious
  3. cruel
  4. hateful
  5. nasty
Adjective
  • According to Microsoft, cybercriminals commonly embed QR codes with malicious URLs directly in the body of emails or within attachments.
    — Benjamin Claeys, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Owen McIntire, 20, of Parkville, faces one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device for the March 2025 incident.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of malicious
Adjective
  • The film focuses on a psychological experiment that Kaczynski was part of in college, where he was subjected to vicious personal attacks.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
  • In the clip, an 11-year-old Breakers player can be seen skating up the ice before delivering a vicious, two-handed slash to the head of a Kings player.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • In the book, MacLachlan recalls being utterly dumbfounded at having been asked to do something so oblivious at best and cruel at worst.
    — Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Many of them, including Ned and his childhood friend and rival, Roland, are scarred by their time as youth players, haunted by memories of the sadistic coaches and cruel, competitive fathers who terrorized them both on and off the court.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • The Ostrich Army, though, dismissed the courts as corrupt and, beginning in late January 2025, started to flood CFIA offices with hateful messages and threats.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
  • But concrete evidence of Clark fans acting in a hateful manner — at least in real time — is severely lacking.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • Rather, the couple’s beloved dog, Lena, was up all night with a nasty case of diarrhea.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The latest special guest stars Este Haim as the mysterious Hallow's Eve, a villainess who wants to ruin Halloween forever by playing nasty tricks on kids out looking for candy.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of nasty

Browse Nearby Words

malignancy
malignant
malignantly
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Cite this Entry

“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

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