MALICE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the noun 'malice' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of malice are grudge , ill will , malevolence , malignity , spite , and spleen . While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer. // felt no malice toward their former enemies

Q: When is 'grudge' a more appropriate choice than 'malice'?

Although the words grudge and malice have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction. // never one to harbor a grudge

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ill will' instead of 'malice'?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration. // ill will provoked by a careless remark

Q: Where would 'malevolence' be a reasonable alternative to 'malice'?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct. // a look of dark malevolence

Q: In what contexts can 'malignity' take the place of 'malice'?

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness. // a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Q: When would 'spite' be a good substitute for 'malice'?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments. // petty insults inspired by spite

Q: When might 'spleen' be a better fit than 'malice'?

While the synonyms spleen and malice are close in meaning, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice. // venting his spleen against politicians

malice

noun

ˈma-ləs

Definition of malice

as in venom

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm there was no reason other than pure malice to spread such disgusting lies all over campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun malice differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of malice are grudge, ill will, malevolence, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When is grudge a more appropriate choice than malice?

Although the words grudge and malice have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is it sensible to use ill will instead of malice?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

Where would malevolence be a reasonable alternative to malice?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

In what contexts can malignity take the place of malice?

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When would spite be a good substitute for malice?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

When might spleen be a better fit than malice?

While the synonyms spleen and malice are close in meaning, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of malice Good intentions can become intentional malice when policymakers ignore clear warnings and leave taxpayers stuck with the bill. — Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 19 Aug. 2026 Takamura tasks Musashi with eliminating the malice that has spread around the city. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 Epley points out that this tendency (homophily) is often driven by fear rather than malice. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Jurors also found that Meta and Google should pay punitive damages tied to findings of malice or fraud. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for malice

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malice

Noun

Deputies tried to keep the man alert and clam to help avoid the venom's spread before medical personnel arrived, the Facebook post stated.

— Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Veterinarians determined that the snake's venom poisoned Samba, prompting them to give her antivenin.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of venom

Noun

His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule.

— Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Yet Christ Jesus consistently refused to let fear, hatred, or sin define his view of anyone’s identity.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of hatred

Noun

The bureau will additionally consider applicants who have engaged in bestiality or animal cruelty as long as the incidents occurred before the applicant was 18 years old, the sources said, according to CBS News.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
The Looney Tunes animation–live action hybrid film is an inspired David-and-Goliath tale about the overreach and cruelty of corporations in the modern age, and its journey to release is a real-life corollary.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of cruelty

Noun

On a day of love and spite and contrasts, his words resonate.

— George Caulkin, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Magneto’s words are said in spite to Charles, the man who will miss him the most — who cradles his helmet for hours after Apocalypse has gone, and who keeps reliving the memory of his death over and over again throughout the season.

— Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of spite

Noun

Trump’s narcissistic obsession with the place, together with the miasmic hatefulness of his words and actions, has caused artists to flee en masse.

— Alex Ross, New Yorker, 19 Mar. 2026
Comment sections have always attracted hatefulness and resentment; these ones just happen to encourage it more explicitly.

— Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025

Definition of hatefulness

Noun

The Very Online meanness, and attendant allegations of sexism and élitism, carries echoes of the rift between the Clintonites and the Bernie Bros; El-Sayed has talked openly of using a victory to shape the 2028 Presidential field.

— Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Sometimes the irony turns bitter and, with a typically Eastern European sensibility, highlights the paradoxes of institutions, as well as the madness and meanness born from the pursuit and preservation of power.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026

Definition of meanness

Noun

Both songs, like much of Ono’s musical and visual work, underline and encourage community, humanity, and creativity in everyone while simultaneously excoriating a pervasive malevolence.

— Katherine Turman, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2026
Not for the first time, the president’s clumsiness is likely to negate his malevolence, though not without considerable cost, in time and money, to Comey.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Definition of malevolence

Cite this Entry

Style

“Malice.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malice. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of malice

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes