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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malignant
The decision, lauded by consumer advocacy groups, comes a full 25 years after scientists at the agency determined that rats fed large amounts of the artificial color additive were much more likely to develop malignant thyroid tumors than rats who weren’t given the food coloring.
—
Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Their mother, Noel Mickelson, died in 2016 from sepsis caused by bed sores, and a malignant tumor, according to Shannon Amos.
—Elizabeth Maline, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
This may include medications to suppress the immune system or treat the malignant cells.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2024
Isabella Strahan is living life to the fullest over a year after being diagnosed and treated for a malignant brain tumor.
—Lawrence Yee, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malignant 
Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
Their mother, Noel Mickelson, died in 2016 from sepsis caused by bed sores, and a malignant tumor, according to Shannon Amos.
—Elizabeth Maline, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
This may include medications to suppress the immune system or treat the malignant cells.
—Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2024
Isabella Strahan is living life to the fullest over a year after being diagnosed and treated for a malignant brain tumor.
—Lawrence Yee, People.com, 28 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Feb. 2025
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Maloof is suing the city of Palm Bay, the Palm Bay Police Department and the officer on claims including malicious prosecution and false arrest.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Nashville's Bad Idea is a wine bar and restaurant set in a former Presbyterian church that fell into disrepair after a vicious tornado.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
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By the time Hezbollah launched its bombardment of Israel in solidarity with Hamas' vicious attack on Israel, the militant Lebanese organization had managed to build a significant military capability under the nose of UNFIL and was more robust than ever before.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Immigrant advocates call those moves cruel and unnecessary.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
8 Feb. 2025
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The current government’s purposeful misrepresentation and defamation of DEI in such a comprehensively cruel and malicious manner deserves nothing less than personal and communal outrage and resistance.—
Dr. Tony Lux,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The two central characters, a mild bespectacled middle-school geek named Hal and his hateful abusive bully of a twin brother, Bill (both are played by Christian Convery), discover the monkey sealed away in a round box.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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Indeed, Ye advertised his Yeezy website during the 2025 Super Bowl broadcast Sunday (Feb. 9), which aired amid a days-long storm of hateful tweets from the star targeting Jewish people.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat had the splashiest individual stat line with 2.5 sacks, but a crew of nasty defensive tackles wrought devastation versus the run and the pass.—
Tim Graham,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
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What follows is a twisted game of house where familiar familial relationships crumble and new ones take root like nasty black weeds.—
M.L. Rio,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near malignant
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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