malicious
0 antonyms and opposites of malicious, grouped by meaning.
Adj — Intended to cause harm; showing ill will toward others.
How to use malicious
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French malicios, from Latin malitiosus, related to malitia, "malice."
Full origin of malicious →Frequently asked questions
What does “malicious” mean?
The word “malicious” means intended to cause harm; showing ill will toward others. In plain terms, done on purpose to hurt someone or cause damage.
How do you pronounce “malicious”?
“Malicious” is pronounced muh-LIH-shuhs (/məˈlɪʃəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “malicious” in a sentence?
Here is “malicious” used in a sentence: “Someone left a malicious comment on her post just to upset her.”
What part of speech is “malicious”?
“Malicious” is an adjective.
Where does the word “malicious” come from?
The word “malicious” comes from Latin. From Old French malicios, from Latin malitiosus, related to malitia, "malice.".
Is “malicious” a common word?
“Malicious” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
What is the difference between malicious and mischievous?
Malicious describes behavior genuinely intended to cause harm and reflects real ill will, while mischievous describes playful, often harmless troublemaking without any real intent to hurt anyone. A mischievous prank is meant to amuse, whereas a malicious act is meant to damage or hurt.
How is malicious used in legal contexts?
In legal contexts, malicious is used to describe actions taken with a deliberate intent to cause harm, which can affect how a crime or civil wrong is classified and punished, such as in charges of malicious damage or malicious intent. The word signals that harm was intentional rather than accidental.
What is the difference between malicious and malignant?
Malicious refers to a person's intention to cause harm, such as in malicious gossip or malicious behavior, while malignant is mainly used to describe something inherently harmful or dangerous, such as a malignant tumor. They share a root meaning of harm but apply to different kinds of subjects.