Definitions
- Describing a person or action that is intentionally harmful or evil. - Referring to a feeling or attitude of ill-will or malice towards others. - Talking about a situation or circumstance that is causing harm or damage.
- Describing a person or action that is motivated by a desire to hurt or harm someone else. - Referring to a feeling or attitude of resentment or vindictiveness towards others. - Talking about a situation or circumstance that is causing harm or damage out of spite.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe negative attitudes or actions towards others.
- 2Both words imply a desire to cause harm or damage.
- 3Both words can be used to describe people, actions, or situations.
- 4Both words have a negative connotation.
What is the difference?
- 1Motivation: Malevolent implies a deliberate intention to cause harm, while spiteful suggests a more emotional motivation.
- 2Intensity: Malevolent is often associated with more extreme or severe actions, while spiteful can be used to describe less severe actions.
- 3Scope: Malevolent can refer to a broader range of actions or situations, while spiteful is more specific to actions motivated by spite.
- 4Duration: Malevolent can suggest a long-term or ongoing pattern of harmful behavior, while spiteful may be more short-lived or situational.
- 5Usage: Malevolent is a less common word than spiteful, and may be considered more formal or literary.
Remember this!
Malevolent and spiteful are both negative words that describe harmful attitudes or actions towards others. However, malevolent implies a deliberate intention to cause harm, while spiteful suggests a more emotional motivation. Malevolent is also associated with more extreme or severe actions, while spiteful can be used to describe less severe actions. Additionally, malevolent is less common and may be considered more formal or literary.
