Meaning & use
malicious
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Meant to hurt or upset someone, and done on purpose out of spite.
Grammar: Describes deeds and words: malicious gossip.
Patterns
- malicious gossip
- malicious intent
Someone spread malicious rumors about her.
The comment was malicious, not just careless.
He took a malicious pleasure in her mistake.
adjectivebefore a nounlegal
In law, done on purpose to cause harm without good reason.
Grammar: Legal wording: malicious damage.
Patterns
- malicious damage
- malicious wounding
He was charged with malicious damage to property.
The court found malicious intent.
Malicious prosecution is a serious offense.
adjectivebefore a nouncomputing
In computing, designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to systems.
Grammar: Used about software: malicious code.
Patterns
- malicious software
- malicious code
The email contained malicious software.
Antivirus tools block malicious code.
A malicious link led to a fake site.
Word forms
| comparative | more malicious |
|---|---|
| superlative | most malicious |
Common combinations
- malicious intent
- The police found no malicious intent.
- malicious gossip
- Malicious gossip split the office.
- malicious software
- Malicious software slowed the computer.
- malicious damage
- The vandals caused malicious damage.
- malicious smile
- She gave a malicious smile.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spiteful
- Spiteful is more personal and describes petty, bitter behavior.
- vindictive
- Vindictive suggests revenge for an earlier wrong, unlike malicious.
- malevolent
- Malevolent is more formal and suggests deep ill will.
- nasty
- Nasty is informal and broader, not always intentional.
Opposites
Word family
- malice noun
- the wish to harm others
- maliciously adverb
- in a way meant to hurt
- maliciousness noun
- the quality of being spiteful
- malign verb
- to speak badly of someone unfairly
Commonly confused: malicious or delicious?
malicious vs delicious
Delicious sounds a bit similar but means tasty, and has nothing to do with harm.
Practice
Which situation best fits the word malicious?
Choose one answer.
Malicious needs deliberate intent to hurt, which lies fit. Storms and accidents lack intent.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “malicious”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.