Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

malignity

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of malignity

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm

  • one of the characters in the novel is a cruel oppressor of such malignity that he came to be one of the most famous villains in all of literature
Synonyms of malignity

cattiness, despite, hatefulness, malevolence, malice, maliciousness, malignance, malignancy, meanness, nastiness, spite, spitefulness, spleen, venom, viciousness
Words Related to malignity

abusiveness, cruelty

abhorrence, abomination, execration, hate, hatred, loathing

animosity, antagonism, antipathy, bitterness, enmity, grudge, hostility, ill will, jaundice, mean-spiritedness, rancor, resentment

despicableness, invidiousness

vengefulness, vindictiveness

aversion, disgust, distaste, horror, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion

bitchery, bitchiness, contempt, disdain

jealousy, pique, resentment, scorn

bile, rancor, virulence, vitriol
Near Antonyms of malignity

devotion, love, passion

amiability, amicability, amity, civility, cordiality, friendliness, hospitality

adoration, ardor, infatuation, veneration, worship

affection, charity, kindliness, kindness

comity, empathy, friendship, goodwill, sympathy, understanding

Synonym Discussion of malignity

malice, malevolence, ill will, spite, malignity, spleen, grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress. malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.
    • felt no malice toward their former enemies
malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.
    • a look of dark malevolence
ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.
    • ill will provoked by a careless remark
spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.
    • petty insults inspired by spite
malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.
    • a life consumed by motiveless malignity
spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.
    • venting his spleen against politicians
grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.
    • never one to harbor a grudge

Learn More about malignity

  1. See words that rhyme with malignity Dictionary: Definition of malignity

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up malignity? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games