Malevolence
noun
A desire to harm others or to see others suffer.
His malevolence was evident from the cruel acts he committed.
Often appears as...
- display malevolence
- ooze malevolence
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
A desire to harm others or to see others suffer.
His malevolence was evident from the cruel acts he committed.
Often appears as...
- display malevolence
- ooze malevolence
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 1
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
Malevolence has a very strong negative feeling; it's much more intense than disliking someone.
The villain's malevolence towards the hero could be felt by everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Intent to Hurt
Malevolence is not just thinking bad thoughts; it includes wanting to cause physical or emotional pain.
Her malevolence drove her to sabotage her coworker's project.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Accusation
Calling someone malevolent is a serious charge. Use it carefully to avoid offending without reason.
Accusing my brother of malevolence hurt him deeply because he values kindness.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
Malevolence has a very strong negative feeling; it's much more intense than disliking someone.
The villain's malevolence towards the hero could be felt by everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Intent to Hurt
Malevolence is not just thinking bad thoughts; it includes wanting to cause physical or emotional pain.
Her malevolence drove her to sabotage her coworker's project.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Accusation
Calling someone malevolent is a serious charge. Use it carefully to avoid offending without reason.
Accusing my brother of malevolence hurt him deeply because he values kindness.
Pro Tip 1/3Negative Emotion
Malevolence has a very strong negative feeling; it's much more intense than disliking someone.
The villain's malevolence towards the hero could be felt by everyone.
Pro Tip 2/3Intent to Hurt
Malevolence is not just thinking bad thoughts; it includes wanting to cause physical or emotional pain.
Her malevolence drove her to sabotage her coworker's project.
Pro Tip 3/3Serious Accusation
Calling someone malevolent is a serious charge. Use it carefully to avoid offending without reason.
Accusing my brother of malevolence hurt him deeply because he values kindness.
Never forget "Malevolence"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
Paul Bloom: The origins...
So it was a series of five painful shocks. Half of them are told that they're being given the shocks by somebody in another room, but the person in the other room doesn't know they're giving them shocks. There's no malevolence, they're just pressing a button. The first shock is recorded as very painful.
Video examples
Paul Bloom: The origins...
So it was a series of five painful shocks. Half of them are told that they're being given the shocks by somebody in another room, but the person in the other room doesn't know they're giving them shocks. There's no malevolence, they're just pressing a button. The first shock is recorded as very painful.
Example 1 of 1
Quote examples
Deborah Sampson
American Soldier
Repentance is a sweet solace to conscience as well as the most complete atonement to the Supreme Judge of our offenses; notwithstanding, the tongue of malevolence and scurrility may be continually preparing its most poisonous ingredients for the punishment of a crime, which has already received more than half a pardon.
Quote examples
Peter Coyote
American Actor
I think you have a social responsibility as the villain, which is pretty different from the hero's responsibility. If you have any kind of a social or political conscience at all, the first thing you want to do is make malevolence recognizable to people, almost as a kind of teaching aid.
Quote examples
Kevin Barry
Irish Author
I was a cub reporter on a local newspaper in Limerick city, and I used to cover the district court meetings. All of life passed through the Limerick courthouse. Misery, malevolence, the dark side of humanity... I tell ya, it made 'Angela's Ashes' look like 'The Wonderful World of Disney.
Quote examples
Saul Bass
American Designer
In 'Age of Innocence,' the opening flowers, that's a metaphor for the film, the Victorian veneer with the malevolence beneath it. We attempted to show that with flowers that start as sweet and then slowly become malevolent.
Quote examples
Jordan Peterson
Canadian Psychologist
As pessimistic as I am about the nature of human beings and our capacity for atrocity and malevolence and betrayal and laziness and inertia, and all those things, I think we can transcend all that and set things straight.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Admittedly, it would take industrial-grade chutzpah and a massive dose of malevolence for anyone to bulldoze the spot where Neil Armstrong stepped off the Eagle lander. But even innocent visits could be damaging.
Quote examples
Michael C. Burgess
American Politician
No one can truly be prepared for such devastation and pure malevolence, but the United Kingdom can always look to the United States as an ally resolved to stand firm in the war on terrorism.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.
Quote examples
Christopher Lee
English Actor
There is something sad about malevolence, to be wicked. I have always tried to make that come across in the villains I have played.
Quote examples
Joel Edgerton
Australian Actor
It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.
Quote examples
Deborah Sampson
American Soldier
Repentance is a sweet solace to conscience as well as the most complete atonement to the Supreme Judge of our offenses; notwithstanding, the tongue of malevolence and scurrility may be continually preparing its most poisonous ingredients for the punishment of a crime, which has already received more than half a pardon.
Quote examples
Peter Coyote
American Actor
I think you have a social responsibility as the villain, which is pretty different from the hero's responsibility. If you have any kind of a social or political conscience at all, the first thing you want to do is make malevolence recognizable to people, almost as a kind of teaching aid.
Quote examples
Kevin Barry
Irish Author
I was a cub reporter on a local newspaper in Limerick city, and I used to cover the district court meetings. All of life passed through the Limerick courthouse. Misery, malevolence, the dark side of humanity... I tell ya, it made 'Angela's Ashes' look like 'The Wonderful World of Disney.
Quote examples
Saul Bass
American Designer
In 'Age of Innocence,' the opening flowers, that's a metaphor for the film, the Victorian veneer with the malevolence beneath it. We attempted to show that with flowers that start as sweet and then slowly become malevolent.
Quote examples
Jordan Peterson
Canadian Psychologist
As pessimistic as I am about the nature of human beings and our capacity for atrocity and malevolence and betrayal and laziness and inertia, and all those things, I think we can transcend all that and set things straight.
Quote examples
Seth Shostak
American Scientist
Admittedly, it would take industrial-grade chutzpah and a massive dose of malevolence for anyone to bulldoze the spot where Neil Armstrong stepped off the Eagle lander. But even innocent visits could be damaging.
Quote examples
Michael C. Burgess
American Politician
No one can truly be prepared for such devastation and pure malevolence, but the United Kingdom can always look to the United States as an ally resolved to stand firm in the war on terrorism.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
The evil that is in the world almost always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence if they lack understanding.
Quote examples
Christopher Lee
English Actor
There is something sad about malevolence, to be wicked. I have always tried to make that come across in the villains I have played.
Quote examples
Joel Edgerton
Australian Actor
It's easier to play aggression and malevolence onscreen, often, than to hit softer notes.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension