malevolent

[ muh-lev-uh-luh nt ]
/ məˈlɛv ə lənt /

adjective

wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious: His failures made him malevolent toward those who were successful.
evil; harmful; injurious: a malevolent inclination to destroy the happiness of others.
Astrology. evil or malign in influence.

Origin of malevolent

1500–10; < Latin malevolent- (stem of malevolēns) ill-disposed, spiteful, equivalent to male- male- + volent- (stem of volēns), present participle of velle to want, wish for, desire (see will1, -ent)

OTHER WORDS FROM malevolent

ma·lev·o·lent·ly, adverb un·ma·lev·o·lent, adjective un·ma·lev·o·lent·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH malevolent

maleficent malevolent

Example sentences from the Web for malevolent

British Dictionary definitions for malevolent

malevolent
/ (məˈlɛvələnt) /

adjective

wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; malicious
astrology having an evil influence

Derived forms of malevolent

malevolence, noun malevolently, adverb

Word Origin for malevolent

C16: from Latin malevolens, from male ill + volens, present participle of velle to wish