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
Senator John McCain died in 2018 at the age of 81 due to a malignant brain tumor.
—
Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 10 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
There is no predicting what joke might set off this particular malignant narcissist in chief, so really, who’s to say who is next?
—Lizz Winstead, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
These, along with melanoma, make up the three malignant skin cancers.
—New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 10 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
There is no predicting what joke might set off this particular malignant narcissist in chief, so really, who’s to say who is next?
—Lizz Winstead, Time, 27 Sep. 2025
These, along with melanoma, make up the three malignant skin cancers.
—New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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For many of Modi’s supporters, Mamdani’s rhetoric is seen as a malicious attack on the country’s majority religion.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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But his preposterously wide net, his endless minions, and his vicious style left us no choice but to scale back on the data center theme.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
10 Nov. 2025
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Tommy's new relationship with Mireya Garcia (Carmela Zumbado) has sparked a face-off with her brother and the leader of the vicious drug gang Insane Princes, Miguel (Manuel Eduardo Ramirez).—
Taylor Ardrey,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That is unacceptably cruel, corrupt, and undemocratic.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Instead, she was stripped of her bronze medal after a late score inquiry—a ruling that still feels cruel for an athlete who had delivered the performance of her life.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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West has previously apologized to the Jewish community, only to go on to make offensive and hateful remarks directed at them publicly.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Nov. 2025
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Dearborn is home to the largest concentration of Arab Americans in the US and has frequently faced Islamophobic and hateful remarks.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The growth of passive investing, through index funds found in the 401(k) accounts of average Americans, has propped up the stock market while also potentially setting it up for a nasty fall.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
7 Nov. 2025
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Instead of this stuff that's raised overseas that's done in ways that doesn't have any checks, that it's got polluted water, it's being fed really nasty stuff, full of antibiotics, full of chemicals.—
Dan Morrison,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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