maleficent
Bent on evil
Maleficent means causing harm or evil, doing ill to others.
The word is rare and literary, more likely encountered in older texts or formal prose than in everyday speech: a maleficent influence, maleficent spirits.
It contrasts with beneficent, which means doing good. (Capitalized Maleficent is a fictional character.)
Harboring ill will
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
- villainousExtremely wicked or criminal
- diabolicalExtremely wicked or cruel
heinous · vile · corrupt · depraved · pernicious · dastardly · iniquitous · monstrous
Causing serious harm
- balefulThreatening harm or misfortune
- deleteriousCausing harm or damage
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
- injuriousCausing physical harm
destructive · ruinous · damaging · hurtful · nocuous
malevolent
Harboring ill will
- wickedEvil or slang-excellent
- nefariousExtremely evil or villainous
- villainousExtremely wicked or criminal
diabolical · heinous · vile · corrupt · depraved · pernicious · dastardly · iniquitous · monstrous · fiendish
baneful
Causing serious harm
- balefulThreatening harm or misfortune
- deleteriousCausing harm or damage
- detrimentalCausing harm or damage
injurious · destructive · ruinous · damaging · hurtful · nocuous
ominous
Suggesting something bad approaches
- forebodingFearful anticipation of harm
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- shadowyObscured by darkness
tenebrous · eerie · haunting · macabre · chilling · menacing · threatening · brooding · grim · fearsome
maleficentbeneficent
Actively doing good
benevolent · benign · beneficial · charitable · generous