# maleficent

CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/maleficent
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

describing someone or something that is very harmful, cruel, or evil. You use this to talk about people who do bad things on purpose or things that cause a lot of damage.

For teachers: causing harm, evil, or suffering; wicked. Often used to describe individuals with malicious intent or forces that produce significant negative consequences.

## Examples

- The movie features a maleficent villain who wants to destroy the world.
- The storm was so maleficent that it caused widespread damage to the coastal towns within hours.
- The novel explores the maleficent nature of the protagonist, whose calculated manipulation of those around him leads to a series of tragic and irreversible consequences.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.