- Today's Word
Malevolent
muh-LEV-uh-lent
Definition
(adjective) Having or showing a desire to cause harm or do evil.
Example
The villain’s malevolent glare sent chills down their spines.
Fun Fact
From Latin male (“badly”) + volens (“wishing”), malevolent literally means “wishing ill.” It’s often reserved for characters or acts that are deliberately cruel. In literature, Disney villains and Gothic horror figures embody malevolence, as do real-world tyrants whose actions stem from malice rather than misunderstanding.
(noun/adjective) Extremely light, thin, and delicate material; something so fine and insubstantial it is almost transparent.
The morning light caught the gossamer threads of a spider’s web stretched between the fence posts.