Meaning & use
malevolent
Having or showing a desire to cause harm to others.
See it in a sentence
The villain's malevolent smile slowly revealed his true dark intentions.
A malevolent rumor spread quickly through the entire small office.
A note on using this word
Malevolent describes intent or character rather than a single act; it directly contrasts with benevolent, its common antonym.
Words with a similar meaning
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Words with an opposite meaning
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