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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malignant
The researchers found that this therapy prolonged survival in patients with glioblastoma, the most common and malignant primary brain tumor.
—
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Each character has been leveled by life in some way, resembling the Wayne Thiebaud model on the book’s cover — flattened by misogyny or malignant passive aggression or betrayal.
—New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The dogs learn how to identify the cancer by smelling three boxes, with one containing a sample of malignant blood.
—Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
And interferon-gamma is used against chronic granulomatous disease and a bone disease known as severe malignant osteopetrosis.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 11 Feb. 2026
Each character has been leveled by life in some way, resembling the Wayne Thiebaud model on the book’s cover — flattened by misogyny or malignant passive aggression or betrayal.
—New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
The dogs learn how to identify the cancer by smelling three boxes, with one containing a sample of malignant blood.
—Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
And interferon-gamma is used against chronic granulomatous disease and a bone disease known as severe malignant osteopetrosis.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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In worst-case scenarios, malicious code can exploit weaknesses in your phone, create backdoor access and pull in even more data without your knowledge.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2026
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Over a four-week period starting on December 12, Black Lotus observed more than 290,000 distinct IP addresses sending at least one DNS request to the malicious APT28 DNS resolver.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Moreover, this isn’t your responsibility, particularly after a history of such vicious attacks.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
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Be cautious — but don’t write off rattlesnakes as vicious, the experts say.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Its tulle is brittle and sharp, brushing against my fur like a thousand tiny teeth, a cruel lover that bites with every move.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
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Because here’s the last, and cruelest, kicker.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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When this fails to happen—and her hopes of marrying off a perfect daughter are dashed—Barbara grows hateful and ultimately delusional.—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
3 Apr. 2026
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For generations, students have learned about complex historical figures who, despite their positive contributions to society, were inarguably problematic, hateful or bigoted while alive.—
Kristy Hutchings,
Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The culprit is a nasty invasive plant, which became one of the most popular landscape trees available − the Bradford pear.—
Campbell Vaughn,
USA Today,
3 Apr. 2026
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Weather officials warned of a warm front moving through north central and northeast Illinois possibly creating nasty weather of thunderstorms, damaging winds and large hail.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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