malicious

[ muh-lish-uhs ]

adjective

1. full of, characterized by, or showing malice; intentionally harmful; spiteful:

   malicious gossip.

2. Law. vicious, wanton, or mischievous in motivation or purpose.

malicious

/ məˈlɪʃəs /

adjective

1. characterized by malice
2. motivated by wrongful, vicious, or mischievous purposes

Derived Forms

• maˈliciously, adverb
• maˈliciousness, noun

Other Words From

• ma·li·cious·ly adverb
• ma·li·cious·ness noun
• non·ma·li·cious adjective
• non·ma·li·cious·ly adverb
• sem·i·ma·li·cious adjective
• sem·i·ma·li·cious·ly adverb
• un·ma·li·cious adjective
• un·ma·li·cious·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of malicious¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English malicius, from Old French, from Latin malitiōsus; malice, -ous

Example Sentences

"Malicious destruction of property" could probably be proved without Tiger's testimony.

From The Daily Beast

Malicious persons in the town even declared that the lamented Torvestad had got his wife in a lottery at Christiansfeldt.

From Project Gutenberg

Malicious tongues went so far as to assert that he secretly and stealthily sold his handiwork.

From Project Gutenberg

Malicious fate had assigned to the most diffident individual in the company the trying responsibility of leading the way.

From Project Gutenberg

Malicious reports were also spread against them, which must have been almost harder to bear.

From Project Gutenberg

Malicious Fate, too, they felt, would even crown with the grand prix the number they would have chosen.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• malevolent
• malignant
• mischievous
• nasty
• pernicious
• petty
• spiteful
• vengeful
• venomous
• vicious
• virulent
• wicked