Word
malevolent
Meanings
Having a wish to harm others; cruel and evil in intent.
Showing or suggesting harmful, hostile intention (often about a look, smile, or presence).
Definition
Malevolent describes someone or something that is cruel and wants to harm others.
Malevolent means having a desire to cause pain, suffering, or damage. It is often used to describe a person’s intentions, a look, or a force that seems actively harmful. The word suggests more than simple unkindness—it implies deliberate evil or hostility.
Examples
- He gave her a malevolent stare from across the room.
- The story’s villain is a malevolent ruler who enjoys causing fear.
- She sensed something malevolent in the quiet, empty house.
- Online scams can be driven by malevolent intent.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse malevolent with malicious, but malevolent usually emphasizes a more deeply evil desire to harm rather than just being nasty or spiteful.
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.