maleficence

/mə'lefisns/
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maleficence

The sorcerer's maleficence corrupted the ancient forest.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The quality or character of being harmful or causing evil: "Maleficence" refers to the inherent nature or state of actively producing harm, misfortune, or evil.
    • An evil deed; a harmful act: It can also refer to a specific instance or act of causing harm or evil.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • The villain's actions were driven by pure maleficence. (The character's harmful deeds stemmed from an evil nature.)
    • Historians debate whether the policy was an error or an act of deliberate maleficence. (Scholars discuss if the harmful policy was a mistake or an intentional evil act.)
    • The legend spoke of a curse born from the maleficence of a vengeful spirit. (The story described a curse originating from the harmful nature of a spirit.)
Advanced Usage
  • Legal and Ethical Contexts: In fields like law, medicine, and ethics, "maleficence" is a formal term for the principle or act of inflicting harm. It is often contrasted with "beneficence" (doing good).
    • The doctor's primary duty is to "do no harm," a principle meant to prevent maleficence.
  • Literary and Formal Analysis: Used to describe the destructive essence of a character, force, or influence.
    • The critic analyzed the play's themes of power and maleficence.
Variants and Related Words
  • Maleficent (adj): Causing harm or destruction, often in a supernatural or grand sense.
    • The fairy tale featured a maleficent witch.
  • Malefactor (n): A person who commits a crime or does evil.
    • The malefactor was brought to justice.
Synonyms
  • Harmfulness: The capacity to cause harm.
  • Malevolence: The state of having or showing a wish to do evil to others (often implies ill will).
  • Noxiousness: The quality of being harmful, poisonous, or very unpleasant.
  • Balefulness: The quality of being threatening or foreshadowing evil.
Antonyms
  • Beneficence: The quality of being kind or doing good.
  • Harmlessness: The state of not being able or likely to cause harm.
  • Benevolence: The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.
Related Phrases and Concepts
  • Principle of Non-maleficence: A core ethical principle, especially in medicine, that one should not inflict harm on others.
    • Medical ethics are built upon the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence.
maleficence

The sorcerer's maleficence corrupted the ancient forest.

Noun
  1. the quality or nature of being harmful or evil
  2. doing or causing evil

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