different between malevolent vs venomous

English

Etymology

From Middle English *malevolent (suggested by Middle English malevolence), from Old French malivolent and Latin malevolentem, from male (“badly, wrongly”) + volens (“willing, wishing”), from velle (“to wish”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /m??l?v?l?nt/

Adjective

malevolent (comparative more malevolent, superlative most malevolent)

1. Having or displaying ill will; wishing harm on others.
2. Having an evil or harmful influence.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:evil

Antonyms

• benevolent

Derived terms

• malevolently

Related terms

• malevolence

Translations

English

Etymology

From Middle English venemous, venymous, from Anglo-Norman venimus, from venin. Cf. Latin ven?n?sus. Equivalent to venom +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?v?n?m?s/

Adjective

venomous (comparative more venomous, superlative most venomous)

1. Full of venom.

2. Toxic; poisonous.
   • c. 1515–1516, published 1568, John Skelton, Again?t venemous tongues enpoy?oned with ?claunder and fal?e detractions &c.:

     More venemous and much more virulent
     Then any poy?oned tode, or any ?erpent.

3. Noxious; evil.
4. Malignant; spiteful; hateful.

5. Producing venom (a toxin usually injected into an enemy or prey by biting or stinging) in glands or accumulating venom from food.

6. powerful

Usage notes

See poisonous#Usage notes.

Synonyms

• noxious
• poisonous
• toxic

Antonyms

• non-venomous

Translations

References

• “venomous” in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• venomous in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.