ENGLISH
REFERENCE

malevolent

adj.
C1 Advanced US //məˈɫɛvəɫənt// UK //məlˈɛvələnt// malev·o·lent

adj. having or showing a desire to cause harm or pain to others. You use this to describe someone who is intentionally mean or cruel.

adj. having or showing a desire to cause harm or pain to others. Often used to describe a person's intentions or a force that acts with ill will.


SIMPLE

He had a malevolent look in his eyes.

CONTEXTUAL

The software was designed to be malevolent, stealing personal data from the company's servers without permission.

COMPLEX

The novel explores the concept of a malevolent force that subtly manipulates the protagonist's decisions, leading to a tragic and inevitable downfall.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English *malevolent (suggested by Middle English malevolence), from Old French malivolent and Latin malevolentem, from male (“badly, wrongly”) + volens (“willing, wishing”), from velle (“to wish”).

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