malevolent
muh-LEV-uh-luntadjMeaning wishing harm to others
Memory hook MALL EVIL. An evil villain sneaks through the mall wishing bad luck on every shopper: he is malevolent.
In the old story, a malevolent sorcerer cast a spell of endless winter on the valley.
In context The villain’s grin was not friendly but malevolent; he was already planning how to ruin the festival for everyone in town.
Similar evil, spiteful, malicious, hostile
Opposite benevolent, kind, friendly
From Latin malevolens, “wishing ill”: male (badly) + volens (wishing).