Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

maleficent

/məˈlɛfɪsənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.76 in modern English

Syllables: malef-i-cent
IPA: /məˈlɛfɪsənt/

17

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Harmful or evil in intent or effect.

Example Sentences

"maleficent influence"
"maleficent spirit"
"maleficent power"
"In the tale, a maleficent witch cursed the newborn princess."
"The critic described the character’s smile as darkly maleficent."

Etymology

From Latin *maleficēns, from male (“bad”) + -ficēns, combining form from faciēns, present participle of faciō (“to make or do”).

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /məˈlɛfɪsənt/
British English: /məˈlɛfɪsənt/

Inflected Forms

more maleficent (comparative) most maleficent (superlative)

Derived Forms

maleficently nonmaleficent

Frequently Paired Words

malefactive malefactor malefic maleficence

Synonyms

maleficient evil malevolent malicious abandoned arrant bad bad apple bad seed baleful scurrilous baneful

Antonyms

beneficent beneficial benevolent magnanimous

Questions

How do you pronounce maleficent?: The recorded pronunciation is /məˈlɛfɪsənt/.
What does maleficent mean?: Harmful or evil in intent or effect.
Where does maleficent come from?: From Latin *maleficēns, from male (“bad”) + -ficēns, combining form from faciēns, present participle of faciō (“to make or do”).

How to pronounce maleficent

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “maleficent”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/məˈlɛfɪsənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “maleficent”.
Repeat and practice — Say “maleficent” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.