MALICIOUS Synonyms: 88 Similar and Opposite Words

malicious

adjective

mə-ˈli-shəs

Definition of malicious

as in vicious

having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it the neighborhood chatterbox has again been spreading malicious gossip

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of malicious The couple’s son, Elijah Bieniemy, was arrested and charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm during the commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside of a dwelling. — Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026 He has been charged with multiple counts of use of a firearm and malicious wounding, court records show. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 17 Aug. 2026 Democrats still are not pleased Harris was taken into custody and charged with four counts of malicious wounding and four counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026 This will likely not be the last time US courts see the malicious tactic, as AI tools become more commonplace in court systems. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for malicious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious

Adjective

Detectives charged him with murder, manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the vicious attack that killed his mother, 57-year-old Josefa Soto de Guzman, on Friday.

— Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 26 Aug. 2026
Pace, skill, a vicious shot, the ability to make opposition defenders look like fools.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

Success can feel like a cruel tease, fleetingly unattainable and yet when finally achieved, too dangerous to enjoy too long.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
If Russia behaved badly, that was the fault of its primitive and cruel Asian side, a notion that conveniently created the fiction that Western countries are not capable of similar cruelty.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

Grabs a ketchup bottle and garnishes his face, before squirting mustard into his hateful, piggish eyes.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Doukoure characterized Tuesday's rhetoric as hateful but said CAIR and members of the Muslim community have become accustomed to being targeted because of their advocacy.

— Gino Vicci, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of hateful

Adjective

Minneola City Councilman David Yeager’s efforts to annex his new home into the city earlier this summer sparked a nasty debate on the council that led to two members being censured last week for incivility.

— James Wilkins, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026
Working with a nasty four-pitch mix, Bradley struck out six over four innings before achieving the feat in the fifth.

— Dan Hayes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

In other cases Hoodoo was used to counter the threat of curses, as in the practice of suspending bottles from a tree to trap any malevolent spirits or witches traveling in spirit form.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026
The Gwi Realm is a desolate, crimson wasteland littered with malevolent presence, so naturally there have been comparisons to that other little Netflix show called Stranger Things.

— Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of malevolent

Adjective

Tests revealed Jodie had a fibrosarcoma – a malignant tumor – in her jaw, which was removed with surgery but later returned and began to invade her jawbone.

— Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Numerous renowned and highly respected psychiatrists have provided evidence that the president does show signs of dementia, in conjunction with unmistakable traits consistent with malignant narcissism and antisocial personality disorder.

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of malignant

Browse Nearby Words

malice

malicious

maliciously

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“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of malicious

adjective

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