ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›M›malevolent
ISEE/SSAThard
malevolent
having a desire to cause harm to others
Synonyms
- malicious
- spiteful
- vicious
Antonyms
- benevolent
- kind
malevolent in a sentence
The story's malevolent villain plotted to flood the entire village.
Behind his polite smile, the new manager harbored a malevolent plan to push out anyone who questioned his authority.
Where it comes from
From Latin male 'badly' + velle 'to wish'
Memory hook
MAL (bad) + VOLENT (wishing) — wishing bad things on others.
Word parts
- mal — bad, evil
malevolent: mal (bad) + vol (wish, from velle)
Read it in context
- Signals After Midnight Science
Practice malevolent in the app