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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malignant
In the latest check-up following the surgery, Netanyahu revealed in a statement on social media that doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his prostate of less than a centimeter.
—
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Friends of Jaclyn was inspired by Murphy’s daughter, a nine-year-old lacrosse player in New York who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2004.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Human disease may be acute, chronic, malignant, or benign, and it is usually indicated by signs and symptoms such as fever or vomiting.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2000, Norris Church Mailer was diagnosed with a malignant gastrointestinal tumor.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Friends of Jaclyn was inspired by Murphy’s daughter, a nine-year-old lacrosse player in New York who was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2004.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Human disease may be acute, chronic, malignant, or benign, and it is usually indicated by signs and symptoms such as fever or vomiting.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
In 2000, Norris Church Mailer was diagnosed with a malignant gastrointestinal tumor.
—Arkansas Online, 28 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malignant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malignant
Adjective
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The 31-year-old man was charged Wednesday with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
30 Apr. 2026
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Court records show that 31-year-old Xin Tong was charged with malicious destruction of a building over $20,000 and operating/maintaining a lab involving methamphetamine.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Now, is that the same as a soldier betting on the capture of a vicious dictator?—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
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Beijing has long struggled to drive domestic consumption, while brutal competition in many industries has pushed producers to cut prices, triggering a vicious cycle in which people hold off on purchases in anticipation of coming discounts.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In what neatly encapsulates the uncomfortable, rude, thin-skinned yet cruel, sarcastic and ultimately juvenile communication style of his online brood, the leader of the pack started with — what else — Lawrence’s looks.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Apr. 2026
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Every day in New York City, thousands of home attendants are being forced to work cruel 24-hour shifts while being paid for only 13 of those hours.—
Christopher Marte,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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An investigation is underway into hateful graffiti in a Long Island neighborhood.—
Jenna DeAngelis,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
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His humor is far more hateful than clever at this point.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The duo made up for the absence of Wembanyama, who did not clear concussion protocol after a nasty fall knocked him out early from a Game 2 loss.—
Christian Clark,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Lomu did not fit the typical profile Mike Vrabel seeks in linemen, players with a nasty streak and fierce play demeanor.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malignant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malignant. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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