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GRE vocabulary

malevolent

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore M words

wishing harm or evil to others

Word origin: From Latin male, badly, and velle, to wish.

In a sentence

Malevolent in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing malevolent in a sentence.

There was something malevolent in the way he smiled at his defeated foe.

Critics read the corporation's malevolent disregard for safety in its repeated suppression of internal warnings.

Synonyms
maliciousspitefulhostilevenomous
Antonyms
Usage & nuance

Using “malevolent” well

Malevolent means actively wishing harm or evil on others, a stronger and more deliberate term than merely unkind. It describes ill will, not just unpleasant behavior.

Common questions

Questions about “malevolent

Malevolent (adjective) means wishing harm or evil to others
Here is malevolent used in an example sentence: "There was something malevolent in the way he smiled at his defeated foe." Another example: "Critics read the corporation's malevolent disregard for safety in its repeated suppression of internal warnings."
Common synonyms for malevolent include malicious, spiteful, hostile, venomous.
Antonyms of malevolent include benevolent, kind, benign.
Malevolent clusters with malicious, spiteful, hostile, and venomous. Its antonyms benevolent, kind, and benign are recurring GRE answer choices.
Yes. Malevolent is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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