ondsinnede

Ondsinnede is an adjective used in Danish to describe motives, intentions, or actions that are deliberately malicious or malevolent. It conveys ill will, vindictiveness, or a nasty disposition, and emphasizes intent rather than outcome. The term is typically found in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts rather than everyday speech, where words like “ondskabsfuld” or “ondskabsatferd” might also be used.

Etymology and usage

The word is built from the stem ond, meaning evil, combined with a form related to sindet or sind, meaning mind or disposition, and the participial suffix -ede to form an adjective. It is primarily Danish and is most commonly encountered in written Danish, including discussions of motives or plans described as malicious. In contemporary Danish, ondsinnede is felt as somewhat formal or literary, and less common in casual conversation.

Syntax and examples

Ondsinnede can modify nouns in phrases such as ondsinnede motiver (ill-intended motives) or ondsinnede handlinger (malicious actions). It can describe persons, plans, or actions that originate from a malevolent intent.

See also

Related terms include ondskab (evil, malice) and ondskabsfuld (malicious, evil-minded). The concept is close to discussions of moral psychology and ethical evaluation in literature and criminology.

Notes

As a Danish term, ondsinnede is not routinely used in everyday speech but remains a recognized descriptor in more formal or literary writing.