malevolence C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes US /məˈlɛvələns/ UK /məˈlɛvələns/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun the wish to do evil or harm to others; ill will There was real malevolence in his cold stare. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 noun · the wish to do evil or harm... malicespitemalignityhostilityrancorill willvenom ↔ Opposites benevolencegoodwillkindnesscharity Word family Related forms malevolentbenevolencemalice Etymology AI details From Latin malevolentia ('ill will'), from malevolens ('wishing evil'), from male ('badly') + volens ('wishing'), present participle of velle ('to wish'). malevolentia Latin male Middle English velle Latin View etymology graph -> Topics Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # malevolence **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /məˈlɛvələns/ **IPA (UK):** /məˈlɛvələns/ ## Meanings 1. the wish to do evil or harm to others; ill will ## Examples - There was real malevolence in his cold stare. ## Synonyms - malice - spite - malignity - hostility - rancor - ill will - venom ## Antonyms - benevolence - goodwill - kindness - charity ## Related Forms - malevolent - benevolence - malice ## Roots and Affixes - Root: malevolentia - Root: male - Root: velle ## Etymology From Latin malevolentia ('ill will'), from malevolens ('wishing evil'), from male ('badly') + volens ('wishing'), present participle of velle ('to wish'). ## AI Etymology Malevolence comes from Latin malevolentia ('ill will'), from malevolens ('wishing evil'), from male ('badly') + volens ('wishing'), present participle of velle ('to wish'). The etymological trail includes Latin malevolentia, Latin male, Latin velle. The same word family includes malevolent, benevolence, malice. Its current noun use means "the wish to do evil or harm to others; ill will". ## Topics - Actions & Processes - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown