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.
Giancarlo Esposito plays Beauty’s malefic father and Niecy Nash is her vocally exacting mother.
From New York Times ● Jun. 30, 2022
In The Wild Bunch he played a punk gunslinger and in Three Amigos! the malefic El Guapo, who spits out the immortal line "A plethora of pinatas!"
From Time Magazine Archive
In Poltergeist, Carol Anne talks to "the TV people," and they talk back; they even play with her, to malefic effect.
From Time Magazine Archive
You may smile or cringe at Nighy's malefic majesty, but either way, you will savor it.
From Time Magazine Archive
Sergeant Hicks said in a malefic whisper that seemed to hiss out of his bowels.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
