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
Over time, these polyps can become cancerous (malignant) and spread to other areas of the body.
—
Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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The lawsuit claims 10 violations of state and federal law, including retaliation, unlawful arrest, unlawful seizure, malicious prosecution and conspiracy and seeks an unspecified amount of money for damages.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
16 Apr. 2026
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This, proponents said, would flag cases where parents might be removing children from school for malicious reasons while sparing those who have done nothing wrong.—
Theo Peck-Suzuki,
Hartford Courant,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Inexplicable, loud, kinetic, vicious.—
Caroline Mimbs Nyce,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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That is, until the union starts not-so-quietly exploding during a vicious screaming match at their home following a fundraising event.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Dahl’s books are fanciful and imaginative, but also dark, cynical, and mean (and, unfortunately, often reflected his real-life ugliness), spinning stories in which gruesome and unpleasant fates befell rotten kids, and adults were frequently selfish, cruel, and not to be trusted.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2026
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Violating that trust is both cruel and unlawful.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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While Kirk was praised by conservatives as a champion of free speech, he was also criticized for comments that many other Americans found hateful toward LGBTQ+ communities, non-Christians, people of color and women.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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Sheikali's case In March 2025, Sheikali's phone flooded with hateful messages.—
Mikayla Price,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This was the old Magic — the nasty, physical, suffocating defensive team that made every possession feel like work.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 Apr. 2026
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From there, the beef between the two couples runs the gamut from faux-gentile to downright nasty.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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