Malignant and Punitive

Malignant

Malignant adjective - Having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it.

Punitive and malignant are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Punitive" instead an adjective "Malignant".

Punitive

Punitive adjective - Inflicting, involving, or serving as punishment.

Malignant and punitive are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Malignant" instead an adjective "Punitive".

Nearby Words: punish, punishment
Cite this Source
Punitive and Malignant. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/malignant/punitive
Malignant & Punitive. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/malignant/punitive>.
Punitive or Malignant. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/malignant/punitive.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "malignant" and "punitive" have occurred on timeline