MALICE Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

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

Some common synonyms of malice are grudge , ill will , malevolence , malignity , spite , and spleen . While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer. // felt no malice toward their former enemies

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

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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'ill will' instead of 'malice'?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration. // ill will provoked by a careless remark

Q: Where would 'malevolence' be a reasonable alternative to 'malice'?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct. // a look of dark malevolence

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

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness. // a life consumed by motiveless malignity

Q: When would 'spite' be a good substitute for 'malice'?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments. // petty insults inspired by spite

Q: When might 'spleen' be a better fit than 'malice'?

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

malice

noun

ˈma-ləs

Definition of malice next

as in venom

the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm there was no reason other than pure malice to spread such disgusting lies all over campus

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun malice differ from other similar words?

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

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When is grudge a more appropriate choice than malice?

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

never one to harbor a grudge

When is it sensible to use ill will instead of malice?

In some situations, the words ill will and malice are roughly equivalent. However, ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

Where would malevolence be a reasonable alternative to malice?

The words malevolence and malice are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

In what contexts can malignity take the place of malice?

The words malignity and malice can be used in similar contexts, but malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When would spite be a good substitute for malice?

The synonyms spite and malice are sometimes interchangeable, but spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

When might spleen be a better fit than malice?

While the synonyms spleen and malice 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 malice Following the heinous crime, there is an outpouring of malice for the victim, and of admiration for the perpetrator. —

Onkar Ghate, Orange County Register, 22 Jan. 2025 As Shadow the Hedgehog, malice; as Neo and John Wick, dread; as Johnny Utah, woe; as Ted Logan, frolic — and now, as an anthropomorphic representation of Lumon, Keanu Reeves veers into the buoyantly propagandistic. —

Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 18 Jan. 2025 Bartman's actions were not rooted in malice, but the consequences, aftermath and imagery of him at that game is what has made the incident so infamous. —

Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 17 Jan. 2025 His father was found not guilty of malice murder but guilty on the other eight counts. —

Dakin Andone, CNN, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for malice

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malice

Noun

For the program, the zoo takes the collected and recorded spiders and milks them for their venom so the material can used to make anti-venom.

— Rachel Raposas, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
Their stingers deliver as much venom as a snake or seven times that of a honeybee.

— Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Dec. 2024