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malevolent Definition

ma·levo·lent (-lənt)

adjective

wishing evil or harm to others; having or showing ill will; malicious

Etymology: OFr malivolent < L malevolens (gen. malevolentis) < male, evil (see mal-) + volens, prp. of velle, to wish: see will

malevolent Related Forms
ma·lev′o·lently adverb
malevolent Synonyms

malevolent

modif.

spiteful, malicious, evil; see wicked 1, 2.

malevolent Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • intent: Hyatt has to deal with an ancient malevolent force intent on making its return to a modern world.
  • spirit: Pagans believe that during the Solstice, malevolent spirits walk the earth.
  • force: Later he dances with an ivory gong, striking it to repel malevolent forces.
  • purpose: This concern arises from the risk that people may use such images for sexual gratification or other malevolent purposes.
  • power: Unfortunately, deep below the Capitol, Leela, confused and morose over the truth about her husband Andred, disturbs a malevolent power.
  • presence: He'd felt that a malevolent presence had taken over his home.

Modifying Another Word

  • potentially: There is also the risk that genetic selection may be used in an unscrupulous and potentially malevolent way.
  • not: Ippegoo looked on with slightly envious but not malevolent feelings, for he was a harmless lad.
  • even: That is the malign, even malevolent, role of the Daily Mail, which is unfortunately by far the most powerful Tory paper.
  • possibly: This music in particular has been alluded to in other film scores concerned with space and possibly malevolent forces.
  • sometimes: A mischievous and sometimes malevolent spirit or energy which is characterized by noises, moving objects and general physical disturbances.
  • rather: Here it lives as a rather malevolent presence, demanding to be filled.

Used with adjective complement

  • turn: As with all trips of this nature, there is always the deviously constructed 'Plan B' should the weather decide to turn malevolent.
malevolent Quotes

When it has left a place where we have always found it, it is like shipwreck; we drop from security into something malevolent and bottomless.

—Cather,Willa Sibert

I remember that the players have often mentioned it as an honour to Shakespeare that in his writing, whatsoever he penned, he never blotted out a line. My answer hath been,Would he had blotted a thousand: which they thought a malevolent speech†[but] I loved themanand do honour hismemory, on thisside idolatry, as much as any.

—Jonson, Ben