A curious thing happened

On May 7th, I looked up the term “male dominated” for the Forbidden Words Project and dictionary.com automatically gave me the word predominate.

Then, I looked up “male” and dictionary.com decided I wanted to look up malevolent.

Given what is happening with the current (Trump) administration, how appropriate. 

Let’s look at the definition of these two words.

predominate

predominated, predominating

1. to be the stronger or leading element or force.

2. to have numerical superiority or advantage.

   The radicals predominate in the new legislature.

3. to surpass others in authority or influence; be preeminent.

   He predominated in the political scene.

4. to have or exert controlling power (often followed byover ).

   Good sense predominated over the impulse to fight.

   Synonyms:

   dominate, overrule

5. to appear more noticeable or imposing than something else.

   Blues and greens predominated in the painting.

predominated, predominating

to dominate or prevail over.

Other Word Forms

• predominately, adverb
• predominatingly, adverb
• predomination, noun
• predominator, noun

Related Words

• hold sway

Etymology

Origin of predominate
1585–95; < Medieval Latin praedominātus, past participle of praedominārī to predominate. See pre-, dominate

from — Definition of predominate. (n.d.). In dictionary.com. 

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malevolent

malevolent, adj

1. wishing evil or harm to another or others; showing ill will; ill-disposed; malicious.

   His failures made him malevolent toward those who were successful.

2. evil; harmful; injurious.

   a malevolent inclination to destroy the happiness of others.

3. Astrology. evil or malign in influence.

Other Word Forms

• malevolence, noun
• malevolently, adverb
• unmalevolent, adjective
• unmalevolently, adverb

Etymology

Origin of malevolent
First recorded in 1500–10; from Latin malevolent-, stem of malevolēns “ill-disposed, spiteful,” from male- male- + volēns “wanting” (present participle of velle “to want, wish for, desire”; see also will ¹)

Related Words

• malicious
• malignant
• murderous
• sinister
• vengeful
• vicious
• wicked

from — Definition of malevolent. (n.d.). In dictionary.com. 

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What is the Forbidden Word Project?

I began The Forbidden Words Project on March 13, 2025. I post a dictionary meaning of one word or phrase almost every day, along with sentence examples or an article that pertains to the term for the day. The words I use are based on a list of words banned by the Trump administration.

Once all the terms on the list have been defined, I will create paintings to celebrate each word on the list. 

See the entire list of words at The Forbidden Words Project page. 

 

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image: word on the street © holly troy 5.2026