ill-wisher
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who wishes harm or misfortune upon another: an "ill-wisher" is someone who harbors malevolent intentions or hopes for bad things to happen to someone else.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She discovered that her colleague was an ill-wisher, secretly hoping for her failure. (A person who wanted bad things for her.)
- Despite his success, he had many ill-wishers who envied his achievements. (People who wished him harm out of jealousy.)
Advanced Usage
"to have ill-wishers": to be the target of people who wish you harm.
- A public figure often has both admirers and ill-wishers. (Some people support them, while others hope for their downfall.)
"an ill-wisher's curse": a hoped-for misfortune from someone who wishes evil.
- He ignored the ill-wisher's curse and continued with his plans. (He disregarded the malevolent wishes of another.)
Variants and Related Words
Ill-wish (n): a wish for harm or misfortune to befall someone.
- His ill-wish for his rival was never fulfilled. (His desire for bad things to happen to his opponent.)
Ill-wishing (adj): inclined to wish harm upon others.
- Her ill-wishing nature made her unpopular in the community. (Her tendency to hope for others' misfortune.)
Synonyms
- Malefactor: one who does evil or harm.
- Evil-doer: a person who commits wicked acts.
- Enemy: a person actively opposed or hostile to someone.
Antonyms
- Well-wisher: a person who wishes good fortune or success for another.
- She had many well-wishers at her graduation ceremony. (People who wanted good things for her.)
Related Idioms
To bear a grudge: to hold a feeling of resentment or ill will toward someone.
- He bore a grudge against his former friend, becoming an ill-wisher. (He harbored lasting resentment and wished harm.)
To wish someone ill: to hope that misfortune comes to someone.
- Only an ill-wisher would wish someone ill without reason. (Only a person with malevolent intentions would do so.)