malefic
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of malefic
First recorded in 1645–55, malefic is from the Latin word maleficus evil-doing, wicked. See male-, -fic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Expect a touch of the supernatural, malefic colleagues and plenty of eccentricity.
From Washington Post
Sergeant Hicks said in a malefic whisper that seemed to hiss out of his bowels.
From Literature
Like a malefic kitten with a ball of string, she would tangle his emotions until he lost all distinction between love and hate, joy and sorrow.
From Literature
In Peel’s world, malefic forces in the U.S. government and corporations prey on unsuspecting patients by rummaging through their history/physical.
From Forbes
And, malefic intent or not, if they don't meet military specs, they could simply fail prematurely—and possibly catastrophically.
From Scientific American
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
