MALIGNANT Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

malignant

adjective

mə-ˈlig-nənt

Definition of malignant

as in malicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it a malignant wish to lash out at everyone who was smarter, richer, or better-looking than he was

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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 malignant Numerous renowned and highly respected psychiatrists have provided evidence that the president does show signs of dementia, in conjunction with unmistakable traits consistent with malignant narcissism and antisocial personality disorder. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026 The finding raises the possibility that some patients given this diagnosis may not have a malignant disease and may not need long-term cancer treatment. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026 Trump obsessed, and is likely still obsessing about a malignant Chinese origin for the coronavirus. — Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026 The patient was selected because his condition, unlike cancers such as leukemia, did not carry the risk of reimplanting malignant cells along with the transplant that could lead to a recurrence. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for malignant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant

Adjective

That leaves a short window during which malicious activity can contaminate the prediction machinery again.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026
An attacker can then register the site and plant malicious instructions on it.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of malicious

Adjective

Your husband merely identified the obvious, most vicious enemy of the people in straightforward terms.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2026
Democrats have little trouble understanding that the right-wing infighting over Carlson is about whether the Republican tent, which already includes racists, nativists, and vicious Islamophobes, is also big enough to include anti-Semites.

— Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Yiannopoulos’ acerbic and at times hateful speech attracted the fury of students who argued his views should not be platformed.

— Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
Grabs a ketchup bottle and garnishes his face, before squirting mustard into his hateful, piggish eyes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of hateful

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malignancy

malignant

malignantly

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

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Synonyms of malignant

adjective

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