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

The attorney added, addressing Healy: “Your repetitive wrongful, bad faith and malicious actions have seriously damaged and will continue to damage my client.”

From Los Angeles Times

Rather than seeing voters and state legislators as well-meaning people trying to navigate thorny trade-offs, we see our opponents as malicious, as trying to burn it all down, like evil superheroes.

From Salon

There’s a malicious swagger to Feyd as he slices through the first two foes before being tested by a third, a moment he invites with pleasure.

From Los Angeles Times

Det Con Max Baimak said in a statement, read out to the inquest, there were "no malicious or threatening communications between Teresa and Robert".

From BBC

He said anyone disseminating "unverified or malicious information", would be arrested and prosecuted.

From BBC

Related Words

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