The Opposite(Antonym) of “benevolent”
The antonym of benevolent are malevolent, unkind, and cruel. These words describe people or actions that are harmful, unkind, or lacking in compassion.
Explore all Antonyms of “benevolent”
Definitions and Examples of malevolent, unkind, cruel
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Having or showing a desire to harm others.
Example
The villain in the story had a malevolent plan to take over the world.
Lacking in sympathy or kindness; cruel.
Example
It was unkind of him to make fun of her appearance.
Willing to cause pain or suffering; unkind.
Example
The dictator's cruel regime caused many innocent people to suffer.
Key Differences: malevolent vs unkind vs cruel
- 1Malevolent implies a strong desire to harm others, often for personal gain.
- 2Unkind describes behavior that is lacking in sympathy or kindness.
- 3Cruel refers to actions that cause pain or suffering, often intentionally.
Effective Usage of malevolent, unkind, cruel
- 1Vocabulary Expansion: Use these antonyms to expand your vocabulary and express different shades of meaning.
- 2Character Development: Use these words to create complex characters in stories or essays.
- 3Critical Thinking: Analyze the actions of people in real-life situations and determine whether they are benevolent, malevolent, unkind, or cruel.
Remember this!
The antonyms of benevolent are malevolent, unkind, and cruel. These words describe people or actions that are harmful, unkind, or lacking in compassion. Use these words to expand your vocabulary, create complex characters, and analyze real-life situations.