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
One 2021 systematic review found that among postmenopausal women whose endometriosis did become malignant, about 75% had used estrogen-only MHT.
—
Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
These malignant tumors are often hormone receptor-positive, meaning the cancer cells grow in response to estrogen or progesterone.
—Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Some of the images contain cancerous tumors, and, over time, the AI learns to distinguish the often subtle differences between malignant and benign tissue.
—Elizabeth Cohen, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Given her age at the time, the chance of a malignant tumor seemed highly unlikely, as the average age to start breast cancer screening is around 40.
—Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2025
These malignant tumors are often hormone receptor-positive, meaning the cancer cells grow in response to estrogen or progesterone.
—Faye Chiu, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Some of the images contain cancerous tumors, and, over time, the AI learns to distinguish the often subtle differences between malignant and benign tissue.
—Elizabeth Cohen, NBC news, 22 Oct. 2025
Given her age at the time, the chance of a malignant tumor seemed highly unlikely, as the average age to start breast cancer screening is around 40.
—Essence, 9 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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These computer viruses often spread through malicious ads embedded in popular websites or infected links in YouTube video descriptions, according to SpyCloud.—
Tereza Pultarova,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
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Jesse Jeremiah, 51, was arrested on suspicion of malicious destruction of railroad property, vandalism and unlawfully stealing and carrying away copper materials, jail records show.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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These vicious youths fell the infected almost for sport, which undersells the source of terror so essential to the series.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Jan. 2026
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His charges there include interference with law enforcement, criminal desecration and having a vicious dog at large, according to a news release from KCK police.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The forest had taught him that city dwellers could often be regulated by cruel and rather unpredictable codes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
That Maduro is a cruel dictator is clear; that Trump intends more than just his arrest (such as taking their oil) is equally clear.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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His new one tells the story of a young woman sent from the afterlife to guide a hateful oil baron through the process of dying — and what comes next.—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
16 Jan. 2026
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Increasingly common, but not commonplace Greller describes threats and hateful rhetoric as a big problem that's becoming more frequent, but not commonplace.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Richards has missed Palace’s previous four fixtures after picking up a nasty foot injury against Leeds in the Premier League just before Christmas.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
12 Jan. 2026
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Ra Shaya Kyle, feeling miserable with a nasty cold that kept her out of practice for two days, scored a career-high 30 points to lead the University of Miami women’s basketball team to an 89-73 win over rival Florida State University on Sunday afternoon at the Watsco Center.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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