Ill-wish

An ill-wish is a sentiment expressing a desire for misfortune, harm, or unhappiness to befall another person or entity. It is a negative expression of feeling often rooted in envy, malice, or a sense of rivalry. Ill-wishes can range from fleeting thoughts to more deliberate pronouncements or actions intended to bring about negative consequences. The intensity of an ill-wish can vary greatly, from a mere wish for someone to fail at a task to a fervent desire for significant harm to be inflicted upon them. It is the opposite of expressing well wishes.

Ill-wish meaning with examples

• Consumed by jealousy, Sarah harbored ill-wishes towards her colleague who received the promotion she desperately wanted. She found herself hoping for their project to fail and secretly reveling in any setbacks they encountered, showing resentment and a feeling of animosity towards their success, even when it had nothing to do with her directly.
• After a bitter falling out, John sent out ill-wishes to his former friend. He wanted him to feel the same pain that he had experienced. He used a stream of angry words and hoped that bad luck would plague them. It was his way of seeking retribution and venting his anger at the breakdown of their friendship.
• The villagers, resentful of the wealthy landowner's unfair practices, expressed ill-wishes towards him and his property. They hoped that his harvest would fail or that his fortune would diminish. This became an open secret; a form of collective resistance to injustice, fuelled by their shared economic hardship and anger.
• During the heated political debate, the candidate's opponent made public ill-wishes. They hoped to use his vulnerabilities against him and wanted his career to be undermined. These malicious and venomous comments served to further divide the electorate and inject a bitter tone into the political discourse.