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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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

But Roy’s story of Annie (Arjun Raina), a New Delhi architecture student caught in a vicious cycle of failing and repeating his studies, gradually reveals itself as a sharp and poignant portrayal of youth, deftly poised between hope and cynicism.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026
Lawsuits, bureaucratic battles, boisterously divisive council arguments and vicious social media debates have been part of Bloomfield life for years, and intensified during Danielle Wong’s contentious time as mayor.

— Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 18 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

The league's anti-hate committee was formed last year to deal with hateful and abusive online comments directed at players and the league.

— S.E. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026
But arguably the script by Jones and director Brunner might have been a skoosh more impactful if the small-minded townsfolk, clearly coded as bigoted MAGA types, weren’t quite so hateful with only a few exceptions.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of hateful

Adjective

The former Cardinal is an absolute brawler with over 90 NFL starts who brings the exact nasty, tone-setting violence this interior unit needs.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 17 Aug. 2026
Greg and Denise are having some marital issues, but everybody needs to put other concerns aside to stay alive with nasty raptors and other hungry beasties around.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 15 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

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of malicious

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on malicious

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

expeditious

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes