malicious intent

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableformal

   A deliberate plan or desire to hurt, damage or cause trouble for someone, rather than harming them by accident.

   Grammar: Uncountable: with malicious intent, not a malicious intent, though some writers do use a before it.

   Patterns

   • with malicious intent
   • malicious intent to do something

   The court found no sign of malicious intent behind the broken window.

   He installed the software with malicious intent, hoping to steal passwords.

   Prosecutors must show that the defendant acted with malicious intent.

2. 2noununcountablecomputingtechnical

   In computing, the purpose behind code or an action meant to damage systems or steal data.

   Grammar: Used as a mass noun, often after a verb like detect or show.

   Patterns

   • detect malicious intent
   • evidence of malicious intent

   The filter looks for patterns that suggest malicious intent in incoming emails.

   There was no malicious intent in the bug; it was a coding error.

   Security teams study the file to judge its malicious intent.

Common combinations

with malicious intent

She was accused of lying with malicious intent.

prove malicious intent

The company could not prove malicious intent.

no malicious intent

I meant no malicious intent by my joke.

evidence of malicious intent

Investigators found no evidence of malicious intent.

show malicious intent

His messages showed malicious intent toward the rival.

Synonyms and how they differ

ill will

Ill will describes a feeling of hostility, while malicious intent stresses a purpose to act on it.

spite

Spite is more personal and emotional, and it often suggests petty revenge.

malice

Malice names the harmful feeling itself, and malicious intent adds the plan to act.

ill intent

Ill intent is a slightly plainer, less legal way to say the same thing.

Opposites

Word family

malice noun

a desire to harm others

malicious adjective

intended to cause harm

maliciously adverb

in a harmful or spiteful way

intent noun

purpose or aim

Commonly confused: malicious intent or malevolent?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “malicious intent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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