MALIGNANCE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

malignance

noun

mə-ˈlig-nən(t)s

Definition of malignance

as in malice

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm the reviewer was criticized not for his negative review of the singer's album but for the malignance with which he expressed his disapproval of her lavish lifestyle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 malignance This is a movement that many progressives view as promising to reinvigorate hearts and minds, but that others warn may deliver different doses of theological malignance. — Audrey Clare Farley, The New Republic, 3 Jan. 2022 By definition Mishler’s content attracts people seeking refuge, but the exceptional malignance of 2020 has colored both her videos and the attitude of her fan base. — New York Times, 25 Nov. 2020 Consequently, the growth disruption itself has exacerbated the cultural and economic malignance that helped create the underperforming trend in the first place. — David L. Bahnsen, National Review, 13 Feb. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignance

Noun

In October, a Newton County grand jury indicted 43-year-old Taiesha Wilson on charges of malice murder, murder, concealing the death of another, identity theft, and more.

— Dan Raby, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Kingston Bradley of Smyrna, Georgia, was arrested and charged with concealing the death of another and malice murder in connection with Mosley’s death.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of malice

Noun

There’s a real opportunity in the fourth episode to do something fun, or at least interesting, when Tyson convinces Russ to join him in smoking hallucinatory toad venom, but no flair or flourishes emerge.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
Spiders, for instance, have muscles surrounding their venom glands, which contract and eject venom through hollow fangs.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of venom

Noun

Luhansk, this terra incognita of the independent Ukraine, is described in almost carnivalesque terms, but this is a carnival infused with absurdity and even cruelty.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
Artistaya Arriyawongsa directed and co-wrote the film, which uses the supernatural to probe online cruelty and the public shaming it fuels.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of cruelty

Noun

Radiologists are required to compare new scans to prior scans to determine the malignancy risk of each nodule detected.

— Oran Muduroglu, Forbes.com, 24 Sep. 2026
The drug, brand name Rasonque, is the first to attack a genetic cause of the aggressive, highly lethal malignancy.

— Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of malignancy

Browse Nearby Words

malign

malignance

malignancy

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Malignance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignance. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of malignance

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

fervid

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes