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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malicious
Sabellico sued him for libel, arguing those comments were malicious and defamatory.
—
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2026
Andrew Zabavsky filed the civil lawsuit Monday in federal court in Washington, seeking damages for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026
Rinderknecht faces at least five years in prison if convicted of charges that also include malicious destruction by means of a fire.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
These are attacks in which a bad actor misleads an AI model by injecting malicious instructions into a conversation, such as a PDF or website code designed to extract valuable company data.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 June 2026
Andrew Zabavsky filed the civil lawsuit Monday in federal court in Washington, seeking damages for malicious prosecution, false arrest, and false imprisonment.
—Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 8 June 2026
Rinderknecht faces at least five years in prison if convicted of charges that also include malicious destruction by means of a fire.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
These are attacks in which a bad actor misleads an AI model by injecting malicious instructions into a conversation, such as a PDF or website code designed to extract valuable company data.
—Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 6 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
-
The tabloids have been extra vicious of late regarding your family strife.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
12 June 2026
-
Firefighters faced vicious winds and, at times, 30-foot flames.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the simple story — written by Jordan Tannahill, who adapted his own book, and directed by Janicza Bravo — illustrates various destructive choices and cruel actions ostensibly driven by love.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 June 2026
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Here is the part that feels especially cruel.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
During a press conference with the family, Minister Dominique Alexander, president of NGAN, said the Anthonys had heard false information, misinformation and experienced hateful attacks.—
Briauna Brown,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
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Resolutions passed on immigration and political violence Later Wednesday, SBC messengers approved a resolutions denouncing political violence and hateful speech.—
Peter Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Yet thieves have found a nasty workaround.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
The nasty spat culminated in April when Shell agreed to resign as president of Paramount Skydance to concentrate on his legal headache.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
The malevolent Sidious put Maul through the wringer, torturing and manipulating him on his path to becoming a fearsome Sith Lord.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
19 May 2026
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The difference between this Andrew Wilson and the one from Whatever was remarkable—as was the fact that Rogan was prepared to host the benevolent version without any apparent concern for the malevolent one.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Everyone has an acid tongue and brims with spiteful resentment.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
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However nasty and spiteful things get between the Butleys and the del Valles, there’s always the sense that a détente may still be possible.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Mancini then missed the 2020 season after surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his colon.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Others are malignant like an ocular melanoma.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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