malicious
muh-LIH-shuhs
Malicious (adj) means Intended to cause harm; showing ill will toward others. Example: “Someone left a malicious comment on her post just to upset her.”
adj
1
Intended to cause harm; showing ill will toward others.
"Someone left a malicious comment on her post just to upset her."
"The company's systems were infected by malicious software."
"He gave her a malicious smile before telling everyone her secret."
How to use malicious
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDone on purpose to hurt someone or cause damage.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
malicious intent
malicious software
malicious gossip
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more malicious
- Superlative
- most malicious
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Someone left a _____ comment on her post just to upset her.
Etymology
From Old French malicios, from Latin malitiosus, related to malitia, "malice."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unmalicious
Related words
Rhymes for malicious
See all rhymes for 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.
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