malevolent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "malevolent" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is intentionally harmful or evil in nature. Example: "The malevolent spirit haunted the old mansion, causing fear among the villagers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As the icily malevolent DI Lindsey Denton, a cop under investigation for corruption who may or may not be guilty of crimes even worse than the ones she's being investigated for, she's already a shoo-in for next year's awards season.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In this week's episode we see a couple of good examples: the show starts with the tiny Donut driving another stolen car – always comic – but that scene culminates in the malevolent Officer Walker breaking his fingers.

The Guardian

Due to the nature of modern encryption, "there is no way to put in a back door or magic key for law enforcement that malevolent actors won't also be able to abuse", argues the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Jeremy Gillula.

The Guardian - Tech

That's why even an apparently super-modern film like Unfriended has to resort to a thousand-year-old horror monster – the malevolent, dangerous ghost – to freak out its audience".

The Guardian - Film

A shrewd and malevolent psychopath who thinks two moves deeper into the game than any of his opponents?

The Guardian - Opinion

He was young and energetic, and just as upbeat and buoyant and lacking in cynicism and malevolent irony as he was hoping to make Lindsey seem.

The Guardian - Tech

Samuel L Jackson is Stephen, the malevolent, all-seeing "house slave": the Uncle Tom to end them all.

The Guardian - Film

There are malevolent madmen.

The Economist

IN THE early days of space exploration, mission planners jokingly blamed a malevolent creature they dubbed the Great Galactic Ghoul for the failure of their unmanned space probes.

The Economist

This lent weight to rumours, long fanned by Islamist extremists, that Egypt's Christians act as a fifth column for malevolent foreign powers.

The Economist

All his equipment was contaminated with radioactive materials, but he worked in an age when nobody knew about the malevolent effects of radioactivity.Neil Brown is the senior curator for classical physics, time and microscopes at the Science Museum.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "malevolent" to describe entities or forces that actively wish harm or display ill will. It's stronger than simply 'bad' or 'unpleasant'.

Common error

Avoid using "malevolent" to describe unintentional harm or negative consequences. "Malevolent" implies a deliberate intent to cause suffering or damage, not just accidental or indirect effects.

Linguistic Context

Malevolent functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to denote a disposition or capacity for causing harm or evil. As Ludwig AI suggests, it directly ascribes ill-will or harmful influence to the subject it describes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "malevolent" is a potent adjective used to describe entities possessing or exhibiting ill will and a desire to inflict harm. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. Its frequency is very common, primarily in news and media contexts. When using "malevolent", ensure you are accurately conveying a deliberate intent to cause harm, distinguishing it from unintentional negative consequences. Remember to choose related terms like "malicious", "evil", or "malignant" based on the specific nuance you want to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malicious

Indicates a desire to cause harm, often with a specific intent.

evil

A broad term for profound immorality and wickedness.

malignant

Suggests something harmful that spreads or worsens, like a disease.

vicious

Implies cruelty and aggression in action or intent.

baleful

Describes something threatening harm or evil.

baneful

Describes something destructive or causing distress.

nefarious

Indicates extreme wickedness or villainy.

sinister

Suggests an ominous or threatening presence.

wicked

Indicates immorality or evil behavior.

pernicious

Describes something subtly harmful and destructive.

FAQs

How is "malevolent" typically used in a sentence?

Typically, "malevolent" is used as an adjective to describe a noun that exhibits ill will or harmful intent. For instance, "The "malevolent dictator" ruled with an iron fist" or "a "malevolent spirit" haunted the castle".

What are some common synonyms for "malevolent"?

Common synonyms for "malevolent" include "malicious", "evil", "malignant", and "vicious". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "malevolent" and "malignant"?

"Malevolent" describes an intention to cause harm, whereas "malignant" often refers to something that is harmful in nature or effect, like a tumor. Thus, a person can be "malevolent", but a disease is usually described as "malignant".

When is it appropriate to use "malevolent" instead of simply saying "bad"?

Use "malevolent" when you want to emphasize that the subject is not merely undesirable but actively wishes to cause harm or suffering. It adds a stronger and more intentional sense of evil than simply describing something as "bad".