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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malicious
From there, the scammers could have read queries or even tampered with results to send 1.1.1.1 users to malicious sites.
—
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
When Tony's security company faces an attack from unknown malicious forces, the family goes on the run across Europe while figuring out who is after them, according to Paramount.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
This surging demand for electricity makes the U.S. electric grid a prime target for investors, politicians, environmentalists, techies—and malicious opportunists.
—Leeza Garber, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Google also recommends keeping an eye out for attempts by malicious actors to access your information.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 4 Sep. 2025
When Tony's security company faces an attack from unknown malicious forces, the family goes on the run across Europe while figuring out who is after them, according to Paramount.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
This surging demand for electricity makes the U.S. electric grid a prime target for investors, politicians, environmentalists, techies—and malicious opportunists.
—Leeza Garber, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Google also recommends keeping an eye out for attempts by malicious actors to access your information.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
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Once infected, the body demands even more energy to fend off infection, leading to a vicious cycle.—
Michal Ruprecht,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
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Masked country crooner Orville Peck will keep his face covered while playing Vega, the vicious fighter who uses metal claws as one of his weapons.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The cruel irony is that the very systems designed to promote inclusion can inadvertently reinforce exclusion.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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And of course, to serve as cruel juxtaposition, deGrom retired the Mets in order in the bottom of the inning on just six pitches.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Political analyst Matthew Dowd took to MSNBC to say that Kirk’s hateful words had led to hateful actions.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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In other words, Cartman is irate that Trump has stolen his hateful, vindictive shtick.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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One said bump is a particularly nasty, literal wig-snatching fight between Vida and Chi-Chi.—
Jen Juneau,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
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In a nutshell, people are easily irritated and inclined to get caught up in nasty power struggles because they’re entrenched in their own views.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Legacy ended with Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), son of Kevin Flynn, preventing the digital world from bleeding into the real world, as planned by the Grid's malevolent ruling program, Clu.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
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Some went further still, suggesting without evidence that malevolent forces had orchestrated the killing.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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They were clouded by an entire era of underperformance, tough luck and spiteful ownership.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
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Being consumed by negative emotions like envy or engaging in spiteful behavior does nobody any good.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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And that’s why Democrats on social media are celebrating his murder with such malignant depravity.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
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The fact that the cancer had metastasized means the malignant cells had spread to other parts of the body, forming tumors.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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