Synonyms of malevolent

malevolent

adjective

mə-ˈle-və-lənt 

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it

the novel grossly oversimplified the conflict as a struggle between relentlessly malevolent villains on one side and faultless saints on the other

Synonyms & Similar Words

• malicious
• vicious
• cruel
• hateful
• nasty
• malignant
• spiteful
• bad
• virulent
• malign
• despiteful
• venomous
• bitchy
• evil
• poisonous
• bitter
• jealous
• catty
• mean
• harsh
• obnoxious
• vindictive
• devious
• hostile
• snakelike
• resentful
• vitriolic
• envious
• contemptuous
• unkind
• baneful
• acrimonious
• baleful
• scornful
• jaundiced
• snotty
• derogatory
• disdainful
• scurvy
• snide
• rancorous
• opprobrious
• disparaging
• unloving
• inimical
• scoundrelly
• caustic
• mean-spirited
• unkindly
• deprecating
• acrid
• scathing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• benevolent
• benign
• loving
• sympathetic
• good
• warm
• kind
• compassionate
• friendly
• kindly
• amiable
• pleasant
• agreeable
• benignant
• gracious
• genial
• nice
• affable
• sweet
• cordial
• unmalicious
• kindhearted
• amorous
• affectionate
• good-hearted
• warmhearted
• humane
• tender
• noble
• altruistic
• philanthropic
• humanitarian
• magnanimous
• tenderhearted
• high-minded

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of malevolent

Keanu Reeves stars as hacker Neo, who discovers that humanity’s been enslaved by a malevolent cyber-intelligence and joins up with badass rebels Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) and Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) to fight back. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026

Erika looks on with the malevolent bemusement of a college cheerleader coming back to homecoming to judge her old high school squad. — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026

In other cases Hoodoo was used to counter the threat of curses, as in the practice of suspending bottles from a tree to trap any malevolent spirits or witches traveling in spirit form. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

The Gwi Realm is a desolate, crimson wasteland littered with malevolent presence, so naturally there have been comparisons to that other little Netflix show called Stranger Things. — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026