malevolence
C2formal, literary, academic
Definition
Meaning
The state or condition of wishing evil or harm upon others; a desire to see others suffer.
The quality of having or showing intense ill will, malice, or spite. It often implies a deep-seated, settled, or chronic disposition towards evil rather than a momentary impulse.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
An abstract noun of high register, typically used to describe a profound, enduring quality of character or atmosphere rather than a fleeting emotion. More intense and deliberate than 'spite' or 'spitefulness'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage or spelling. The term is equally formal and rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly negative in both, associated with villains in literature, tyrannical figures, or profound moral corruption.
Frequency
Very low frequency in spoken language for both, slightly more common in written texts of a formal, literary, or academic nature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb of sensing/perception] + malevolence (e.g., sense, feel, detect)malevolence + [preposition] + [target] (e.g., towards, against)[adjective] + malevolenceVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[no common idioms directly with 'malevolence'; concept appears in phrases like 'with malice aforethought']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might describe a hostile corporate takeover driven purely by spite: 'The acquisition was an act of sheer malevolence, not business sense.'
Academic
Used in literary criticism, psychology, philosophy, and history to describe characters, motivations, or historical actors: 'The paper analyses the deep-seated malevolence in the protagonist's worldview.'
Everyday
Extremely rare in casual conversation. Would be used for dramatic effect: 'I could feel the malevolence in his stare.'
Technical
Not used in STEM fields. Possible in clinical psychology in non-technical descriptions of antisocial traits.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- 'Malevolence' is the noun form; the corresponding verb is 'to malevolate' which is obsolete. The related adjective 'malevolent' is used: 'He malevolently plotted their ruin.'
American English
- 'Malevolence' is the noun form; the corresponding verb is 'to malevolate' which is obsolete. The related adjective 'malevolent' is used: 'She malevolently sabotaged the project.'
adverb
British English
- He smiled malevolently as his plan unfolded.
- The critic wrote malevolently about the author's new work.
American English
- She whispered malevolently into the phone.
- The software was designed to malevolently corrupt the data.
adjective
British English
- His malevolent gaze was fixed on the rival.
- They uncovered a malevolent scheme to destabilise the government.
American English
- The dictator's malevolent intentions were clear.
- She was the target of a malevolent social media campaign.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The villain in the story was full of malevolence.
- I don't like him; I can feel his malevolence.
- His public kindness masked a private life of shocking malevolence.
- The letter was not just critical; it was written with genuine malevolence.
- The historian argued that the regime's actions stemmed not from pragmatism but from profound ideological malevolence.
- One could detect a chilling undercurrent of malevolence in his otherwise polite and measured speech.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MALE-VOLENCE'. Imagine a malevolent (evil) VOLcano spewing hateful lava on a village. The 'vol' connects to 'volcano' and 'volition' (will), emphasizing a will to do evil.
Conceptual Metaphor
MALEVOLENCE IS A POISON / A DARK FORCE / A COLD. (e.g., 'His words dripped with malevolence,' 'A wave of malevolence filled the room,' 'She was chilled by the malevolence in his tone.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation to 'злоба' or 'злость', which are more common and can imply a transient anger. 'Malevolence' is deeper, more settled: closer to 'злонамеренность' or 'зложелательство'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'malevolance'. Confusing with 'benevolence' (opposite meaning). Using it to describe mild annoyance or simple disagreement.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'malevolence' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word mostly found in writing (literature, academia, formal journalism). It is very rare in everyday spoken English.
They are close synonyms. 'Malevolence' often implies a deeper, more settled, and more profound disposition towards evil, while 'malice' can be used for a specific, active intent to harm (e.g., 'malice aforethought' in law). 'Malevolence' has a more literary and formal tone.
Yes, it can be used figuratively. You can describe a 'malevolent atmosphere', a 'malevolent force', or even a 'malevolent AI' in fiction, attributing evil intent to a non-human entity or ambience.
The main and common adjective form is 'malevolent' (/məˈlɛv.ə.lənt/). The verb 'to malevolate' is archaic and not used.
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