malicious

adjective

ma·li·cious | \ mə-ˈli-shəs

Definition of malicious

: having or showing a desire to cause harm to someone : given to, marked by, or arising from malice malicious gossip

Other Words from malicious Synonyms & Antonyms Malicious, Malevolent, and Malice More Example Sentences Learn More about malicious

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Malicious, Malevolent, and Malice

Malicious and malevolent are close in meaning, since both refer to ill will that desires to see someone else suffer. But while malevolent suggests deep and lasting dislike, malicious usually means petty and spiteful. Malicious gossipers are often simply envious of a neighbor's good fortune. Vandals may take malicious pleasure in destroying and defacing property but usually don't truly hate the owners. Malice is an important legal concept, which has to be proved in order to convict someone of certain crimes such as first-degree murder.

Examples of malicious in a Sentence

… she is an inspired hater, and thrills to malicious descriptions of long-forgotten, nameless individuals whose bad luck it was to live near her, or to have met her socially. — Joyce Carol Oates, New York Times Book Review, 5 Nov. 2000 A cunning and malicious crook who suckered him without half trying. — Philip Roth, American Pastoral, 1997 Frank sensed her discomfort and took a certain malicious pleasure in it, enacting all the while his perfect innocence. — John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994 a malicious distortion of the truth the neighborhood chatterbox has again been spreading malicious gossip

Recent Examples on the Web

Google's researchers say the malicious sites were programmed to assess devices that loaded them, and to compromise them with powerful monitoring malware if possible. — Wired, "Mysterious iOS Attack Changes Everything We Know About iPhone Hacking," 30 Aug. 2019 There is something objectively problematic and harmful to our users when malicious actors attempt to deceive them. — Bill Lambrecht, ExpressNews.com, "Advocates push Census Bureau to prepare for security breaches, disinformation ahead of 2020 count," 30 Aug. 2019 While the company has beefed up its fight against misinformation and coordinated attacks by malicious nation-states, the same can be said for those trying to game its systems. — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, "Facebook Tightens Political Ad Rules—But There Are Loopholes," 28 Aug. 2019 Austin James Lansdon is accused of two counts apiece of malicious harassment and unlawful imprisonment, records show. — oregonlive.com, "Man arrested on suspicion of threatening, yelling slurs at woman and baby in Vancouver," 26 Aug. 2019 There is no indication the disruption was malicious in nature at this time. — Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, "Delays getting through customs at SFO following computer glitch," 16 Aug. 2019 There is no indication the disruption was malicious in nature at this time. — Jill Tucker, SFChronicle.com, "Computer glitch that led to customs delays at SFO, other international airports, resolved," 16 Aug. 2019 Most of the apps contained legitimate functionality to prevent users from suspecting the apps are malicious. — Dan Goodin, Ars Technica, "Advanced mobile surveillanceware, made in Russia, found in the wild," 24 July 2019 Lopez has since been charged with three counts of second-degree robbery and one count of malicious informing of a false bomb by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office. — Andy Nguyen, Glendale News-Press, "Glendale attempted bank robbery suspect ID’d as Sylmar man," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'malicious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for malicious

malicious

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of malicious

: having or showing a desire to cause harm to another person : having or showing malice

See the full definition for malicious in the English Language Learners Dictionary

malicious

adjective

ma·li·cious | \ mə-ˈli-shəs

Kids Definition of malicious

: feeling or showing a desire to cause harm to another person malicious gossip

malicious

adjective

ma·li·cious | \ mə-ˈli-shəs

Legal Definition of malicious

: given to, marked by, or arising from malice malicious destruction of property

malicious

Definition of malicious

Other Words from malicious

Synonyms & Antonyms for malicious

Malicious, Malevolent, and Malice

Examples of malicious in a Sentence

First Known Use of malicious

History and Etymology for malicious

English Language Learners Definition of malicious

Kids Definition of malicious

Legal Definition of malicious

malicious

Definition of malicious

Other Words from malicious

Synonyms & Antonyms for malicious

Malicious, Malevolent, and Malice

Examples of malicious in a Sentence

First Known Use of malicious

History and Etymology for malicious

English Language Learners Definition of malicious

Kids Definition of malicious

Legal Definition of malicious

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