malevolent

/məˈlɛvələnt/

malevolent

English Adj Top 32,748
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Definition

Having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others.

Etymology

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”).

Example Sentences

  • "In Iraq the bullying continued. After she witnessed the death of a colleague, Manning felt how “with enough grief, adrenaline and fear”, war can turn anyone “amoral, even malevolent”."
  • "Vela, Javier Hernández and Lozano switched positions with a thrillingly malevolent sense of purpose."
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