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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Recent Examples of malignant
Half of the mammary tumors found in dogs are benign, and of the malignant half, most can be treated successfully with surgery if caught early enough, the veterinary group notes.
—
Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
That one is on Stan Bowman, as was the decision to stick with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard for the start of the 2025-26 season despite Skinner’s malignant inconsistency and Pickard’s career-backup resume.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Giant cell tumors are typically non-cancerous, with only 4% of the tumors becoming malignant cancers, according to Cleveland Clinic.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
In the latest check-up following the surgery, Netanyahu revealed in a statement on social media that doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his prostate of less than a centimeter.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
That one is on Stan Bowman, as was the decision to stick with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard for the start of the 2025-26 season despite Skinner’s malignant inconsistency and Pickard’s career-backup resume.
—Sean Gentille, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Giant cell tumors are typically non-cancerous, with only 4% of the tumors becoming malignant cancers, according to Cleveland Clinic.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 25 Apr. 2026
In the latest check-up following the surgery, Netanyahu revealed in a statement on social media that doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his prostate of less than a centimeter.
—Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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The Celeste team argues that large, heavy drones pose a serious cybersecurity risk, as they could be hijacked and used for harm by malicious hackers.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
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That’s not necessarily malicious.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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Another thankless gig leads Ben to Cat Hardy (Li Jun Li), a nightclub singer with ties to Brendan Gleeson‘s Silvermane, a vicious mobster engaged in an increasingly heated conflict with the city’s mayor (Michael Kostroff).—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
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There are the victims, their families, and lives left shattered because of a single person’s vicious wrath.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
20 May 2026
Adjective
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In the late '90s and early '00s, Pamela Anderson became a tabloid fixture who was frequently the butt of cruel jokes alongside many other female celebrities of the era.—
Brianna Zigler,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 May 2026
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But fate, cruel and sudden, had other ideas.—
Greg Engle,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
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Given the current political climate, especially in Washington — created by the hateful Dems — a ballroom is essential for all members of both parties.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
13 May 2026
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Michael’s hateful words come from a desperate desire not to return home, Moss-Bachrach says.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Those forests were previously home to bats, a natural reservoir for all kinds of nasty viruses.—
Neil Vora,
Time,
22 May 2026
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Still, his vice president’s now president, and his very, very nasty minister of justice is, some say, the power behind the throne.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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