MALIGNITIES Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of malignity are grudge , ill will , malevolence , malice , spite , and spleen . While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness. // a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Q: When would 'grudge' be a good substitute for 'malignity'?

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

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

The synonyms ill will and malignity are sometimes interchangeable, but ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration. // ill will provoked by a careless remark

Q: When might 'malevolence' be a better fit than 'malignity'?

The meanings of malevolence and malignity largely overlap; however, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct. // a look of dark malevolence

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

The words malice and malignity can be used in similar contexts, but malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer. // felt no malice toward their former enemies

Q: When can 'spite' be used instead of 'malignity'?

While in some cases nearly identical to malignity , spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments. // petty insults inspired by spite

Q: Where would 'spleen' be a reasonable alternative to 'malignity'?

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

malignity

noun

mə-ˈlig-nə-tē

Definition of malignity

as in malice

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm one of the characters in the novel is a cruel oppressor of such malignity that he came to be one of the most famous villains in all of literature

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How does the noun malignity differ from other similar words?

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

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When would grudge be a good substitute for malignity?

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

never one to harbor a grudge

In what contexts can ill will take the place of malignity?

The synonyms ill will and malignity are sometimes interchangeable, but ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

When might malevolence be a better fit than malignity?

The meanings of malevolence and malignity largely overlap; however, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

When is malice a more appropriate choice than malignity?

The words malice and malignity can be used in similar contexts, but malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When can spite be used instead of malignity?

While in some cases nearly identical to malignity, spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

Where would spleen be a reasonable alternative to malignity?

While the synonyms spleen and malignity 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 malignity Blumenthal delivered just that—a conspiratorial account of Jewish power, American malignity, and the Islamic Republic’s righteousness. — James Kirchick, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026 Questioning, if not rejecting, established Christian doctrine, Ahab also comes to regard Moby Dick as the outward and visible sign, the physical embodiment of the indifference or, worse, utter malignity inherent in the universe. — Literary Hub, 6 July 2026 His Cyrano is the play’s hero, even if the character’s psychological limitations are as much a factor in the story as the machinations of De Guiche, whose malignity is sent up in Nathanson’s flamboyantly comic turn. — Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2024 For a decade, the central drama of Trumpism has concerned the Republican élites who continued to support him—the story has been about their malignity, or opportunism, or willful moral blindness. — Benjamin Wallace-Wells, The New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2023 Though Bilger does not quite say so, his grandfather emerges as a case study in the capacity for compartmentalization that is arguably more destructive of morality than outright malignity. — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023 In a landscape of such confused malignity as capital-p Publishing, who actually suffers from an act like June’s? — Zoe Hu, Washington Post, 12 May 2023

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignity

Noun

Steele said authorities concluded the shooting did not meet the legal standard for a murder charge because the evidence did not support a finding of malice or premeditation.

— Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
As Musashi clears away the malice, the locals come out of hiding, and more of Kyoto becomes available to explore.

— Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of 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

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

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

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“Malignity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignity. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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