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Harmful vs Malevolent - What's the difference?

harmful | malevolent |

As adjectives the difference between harmful and malevolent

is that harmful is of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious while malevolent is having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others.

harmful

English

Alternative forms

* harmfull (archaic)

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious
    • Wear a hat to protect your skin from harmful sunlight.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns to which "harmful" is often applied: effect, consequence, impact, influence, emission, chemical, ingredient, substance, gas, agent, additive, drug, radiation, dust, organism, plant, animal, insect, action, act, behavior, component, content, activity, interference, use.

    Synonyms

    * injurious; see also

    Antonyms

    * beneficial * harmless

    See also

    * harm

    malevolent

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others
  • having an evil or harmful influence

    • Synonyms

    * evil * malicious * See also

    Antonyms

    * benevolent

    Related terms

    * malevolence * malevolently