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A situation or condition that is abysmal is extremely bad or of wretched quality.
If your behavior or manner is altruistic, you show you care more about other people and their interests than you care about yourself.
If you have animus against someone, you have a strong feeling of dislike or hatred towards them, often without a good reason or based upon your personal prejudices.
Antipathy is a strong feeling of dislike or hostility towards someone or something.
An atrocious deed is outrageously bad, extremely evil, or shocking in its wrongness.
Someone is baleful if they are filled with bad intent, anger, or hatred towards another person.
When something bedevils you, it causes you a lot of problems and difficulties over a period of time.
If you describe someone as benign, they are kind, gentle, and harmless.
A chivalrous man behaves in a polite, kind, generous, and honorable way, especially towards women.
If someone is granted clemency, they are punished less severely than they could have been—they have been shown mercy.
Something that is deleterious has a harmful effect.
Draconian rules and laws are extremely strict and harsh.
If you refer to the enormity of a situation, problem, or event, you mean that it is very evil or morally offensive; this word has nothing to do with physical size.
A gallant person is brave, heroic, respectful, and acts with honor.
An infamous person has a very bad reputation because they have done disgraceful or dishonorable things.
Iniquity is an immoral act, wickedness, or evil.
Something innocuous is not likely to offend or harm anyone.
An action is invidious when it is done with the intention of creating harm or producing envy or hatred in others.
If you describe someone as Machiavellian, you disapprove of him because he uses clever tricks and other dishonest methods to achieve his aims, especially in politics.
Something or someone that is maleficent deliberately tries to cause harm or evil.
Malfeasance is an unlawful act, especially one committed by a trusted public official.
Malice is a type of hatred that causes a strong desire to harm others both physically and emotionally.
If you malign someone, you say unpleasant things about them to damage their reputation.
A malignant thing or person, such as a tumor or criminal, is deadly or does great harm.
A notorious person is well-known by the public at large; they are usually famous for doing something bad.
Something that is pernicious is very harmful or evil, often in a way that is hidden or not quickly noticed.
Philanthropy is unselfish support in the form of donating money, work, or gifts to positive social purposes; philanthropy is also overall love for humans in general.
Something that is propitious shows favorable conditions.
A ruthless person shows no pity or mercy to an opponent.
A salubrious place or area is pleasant, clean, healthy, and comfortable to live in.
A salutary experience is beneficial to you since it strengthens you in some way, although it may be unpleasant as you undergo it; this word also refers to promoting good health.
The sanctity of something is its holiness or sacred quality.
Something sinister makes you feel that an evil, bad, or harmful thing is about to happen.
A vicious person is corrupt, violent, aggressive, and/or highly immoral.
Something vile is evil, very unpleasant, horrible, or extremely bad.
Virulent feelings or actions are full of hatred and bitterness.
Adj.
malevolent
muh-LEV-uh-luhnt
Context
It is interesting that in science fiction aliens are often portrayed as evil, destructive, and malevolent beings who prey on human victims. Does this view exist because so many fear outsiders and therefore perceive aliens as invaders who act in malevolent ways, bent on injuring us? Or is it fun to imagine harmful or malevolent forces in the universe against which humans prevail after victorious but intense struggle?
Quiz:Try again!
How would a malevolent person behave?
They would do all they could to help a friend.
They would deliberately try to hurt other people.
They would avoid any task that requires a lot of effort.
ViolentMale The malevolent man is a highly violentmale who tried to kill us all yesterday in the elevator, but we overpowered him.
Examples
Americans are benevolently ignorant about Canada, while Canadians are malevolently well informed about the United States.
— J. Bartlett Brebner
The military industrial complex has become a hidden and malevolent force whose real purpose seems to be an ever escalating conglomeration of mysterious test facilities and concealed agendas.
—
Newsvine
The report itself is a simply amazing document, reflecting a relentless pattern of malevolent intervention designed to frustrate any hopes of peace, to stimulate violence and warfare.
—
Harper's Magazine
Advised by the good wizard Gandalf, he sets off to rid Middle-earth of the ring by throwing it into the fires of Mordor, the malevolent land where it was made.
—
The Christian Science Monitor
A malevolent person is in a “state or condition of wishing evil” upon others.
Word Theater
Sleeping Beauty The malevolent Maleficent also gives Princess Aurora, the future Sleeping Beauty, a gift . . . but one that no parent would want.
The panel shows a small video clip of either the word in actual use or a scene that represents the meaning of a word. This not only breaks up the monotony of studying words but also provides another avenue to strengthen word meaning. Enjoy!
