maleficence
Intent to harm
Maleficence is the doing of evil or harm.
The word appears primarily in formal or literary contexts, often contrasted with beneficence: The maleficence of the regime became undeniable.
In ethics, particularly medical ethics, non-maleficence—the principle of doing no harm—is more commonly encountered than the root word itself.
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
hatred · enmity · wickedness · evil · vengeance · resentment · grudge · antipathy
Physical or psychological harm
- damageHarm or impairment
- hurtCause or feel pain
- destructionAct of completely ruining
- traumaLasting psychological wound
suffering · abuse · affliction · wound · detriment · impairment · mischief · neglect
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
- graftIllicit political gain
nepotism · cronyism · racketeering · money laundering · collusion · kickback · profiteering · exploitation
Harmful substance exposure
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- venomInjected animal poison
- contagionDisease spread by contact
blight · pestilence · infection · corruption · taint · noxiousness · hazard · environmental harm
spite
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
animosity · hatred · enmity · wickedness · evil · vengeance · resentment · grudge · antipathy · bitterness
injury
Physical or psychological harm
- damageHarm or impairment
- hurtCause or feel pain
- destructionAct of completely ruining
trauma · suffering · abuse · affliction · wound · detriment · impairment · mischief · neglect · cruelty
bribery
Corrupt payment for influence
- embezzlementFraudulent taking of entrusted assets
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- extortionObtaining through threats
graft · nepotism · cronyism · racketeering · money laundering · collusion · kickback · profiteering · exploitation · insider trading
poisoning
Harmful substance exposure
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- pollutionEnvironmental harm from waste
- venomInjected animal poison
contagion · blight · pestilence · infection · corruption · taint · noxiousness · hazard · environmental harm · carcinogen
crime
Punishable illegal act
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- perjuryCriminal courtroom dishonesty
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
burglary · robbery · blackmail · conspiracy · smuggling · looting · trespass · vandalism · felony · misdemeanor
maleficencebeneficence
Active desire to help
benevolence · benignity · goodwill · kindness · charity
maleficencevirtue
Moral goodness or merit
righteousness · goodness · saintliness · nobility · uprightness