Definition

1. Noun:
   • The quality or state of being malignant; intense ill will or malevolence: "Malignance" refers to a disposition toward evil, harm, or intense hatred.
   • (Medicine) A malignant condition; the state of being cancerous, progressive, resistant to treatment, and tending to cause death: In a medical context, "malignance" describes the harmful, invasive, and often fatal nature of a disease, especially a tumor.

Usage Examples

• General (Ill Will):

  • The malignance in his words was unmistakable. (The intense ill will in his words was clear.)
  • Her actions were driven by pure malignance. (Her actions were motivated by pure malevolence.)

• Medical:

  • The biopsy confirmed the malignance of the tumor. (The biopsy confirmed the cancerous, dangerous nature of the tumor.)
  • Doctors were concerned about the rapid progression of the disease's malignance. (Doctors were worried about how quickly the disease was becoming more aggressive and harmful.)

Advanced Usage

• "with malignance": in a manner showing intense ill will.

  • He spoke with a quiet malignance that was more frightening than shouting. (He spoke with a quiet malevolence that was scarier than yelling.)

• "degree of malignance": (medical) a measure of how aggressive and dangerous a cancerous growth is.

  • The pathology report will grade the degree of malignance. (The pathology report will classify how aggressive the cancer is.)

Variants and Related Words

• Malignancy (n): This is a more common variant with identical meanings to "malignance." It is frequently used, especially in medical contexts.

  • The malignancy of his character was well known. (The evil nature of his character was widely recognized.)
  • She was diagnosed with a malignancy. (She was diagnosed with a cancerous growth.)

• Malignant (adj): Having the nature of or constituting a malignancy; malevolent.

  • a malignant tumor (a cancerous tumor)
  • malignant intentions (evil intentions)

• Malign (v): To speak about someone in a spitefully critical manner.

  • He was accused of trying to malign his opponent's reputation. (He was accused of trying to harm his opponent's reputation spitefully.)

Synonyms

• Malevolence: The state or condition of being malevolent; having or showing a wish to do evil to others.
• Virulence: Extreme bitterness or hostility; (in medicine) the severity or harmfulness of a disease.
• Maliciousness: The condition of being malicious; characterized by malice.

Antonyms

• Benevolence: The quality of being well-meaning; kindness.
• Benignity: The quality of being kind and gentle; (in medicine) a condition that is not harmful in effect.

Noun

1. quality of being disposed to evil; intense ill will
2. (medicine) a malignant state; progressive and resistant to treatment and tending to cause death