: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Examples of malware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Strong antivirus software uses behavior detection to monitor what programs are doing in real time, helping flag suspicious activity even if the malware hasn't been seen before.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The malware—reportedly jointly developed by the US and Israel—pushed a malicious update throughout an infected network belonging to the Iranian government.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Ultimately, the scammers appear to use their initial contractor targets as unsuspecting mules for the malware payload.
—Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026
Bad actors can make a copy of them and remove the guardrails against malware.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
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Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
The malware—reportedly jointly developed by the US and Israel—pushed a malicious update throughout an infected network belonging to the Iranian government.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 17 Apr. 2026
Ultimately, the scammers appear to use their initial contractor targets as unsuspecting mules for the malware payload.
—Jessica Klein, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2026
Bad actors can make a copy of them and remove the guardrails against malware.
—Huo Jingnan, NPR, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
Cite this Entry
“Malware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malware. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malware
noun
: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Legal Definition
malware
noun
mal·ware
ˈmal-ˌwer 
: software that is designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning and that can be used to commit cybercrime (as by revealing passwords, PINs, and other sensitive data)
Etymology
mal- bad + software
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