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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Recent Examples of malicious
She was arrested at a hotel near the barn and booked at the Clark County Juvenile Hall on 12 counts of animal cruelty, including intentionally aiming or torturing a horse, as well as three counts of malicious destruction of property.
—
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 June 2026
This renders traditional resilience methods obsolete, as errors and malicious activity, like prompt injection, propagate rapidly through interconnected agents, making holistic recovery impossible.
—Pranay Ahlawat, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Kyle Corkum, 26, was charged with strangulation, assault by mean of a dangerous weapon, shod food, assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 1 June 2026
This renders traditional resilience methods obsolete, as errors and malicious activity, like prompt injection, propagate rapidly through interconnected agents, making holistic recovery impossible.
—Pranay Ahlawat, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
She was later transported to the Clark County Juvenile Hall and charged with 12 counts of willful or malicious killing, maiming or torturing an animal and three counts of felony malicious destruction of private property valued at more than $5,000, police said.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Kyle Corkum, 26, was charged with strangulation, assault by mean of a dangerous weapon, shod food, assault and battery, assault and battery on a police officer, malicious destruction of property, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
—Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
-
Her vicious block on Clark with seven minutes left nearly lifted the roof off the place.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
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Other cast members spoke on rising to new challenges in Season 2, including Paulina Chavez, whose character Ariana Medina survived a vicious assault in the penultimate episode.—
Kai Naima Williams,
Variety,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Electronic bugs are installed, secretaries listen in on every phone call and conversation, and rock 'n roll is banned in this cruel culture of absolute secrecy.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
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The slaughter of Australian infantry at the hands of Turkish guns on the coastal region of Gallipoli has become emblematic of the pointless loss of life during this cruel conflict.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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The symbols that were represented are antisemitic and hateful to every person of conscience; this appalling act violated our sense of community and solidarity.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Rookie said she was disappointed by some of the hateful comments directed at her body and her age.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Flu season may be mostly behind us, but a nasty, highly contagious stomach bug is rising.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
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Rhaenyra is suddenly dealing with internal criticism, possible rebellions, subjects spray-painting nasty stuff on the walls and self-doubt.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
29 May 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
-
Others are malignant like an ocular melanoma.—
Bruce Y. Lee,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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Zombie cucumbers Back in 1951, doctors at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore took a sample of a malignant cervical tumor from Henrietta Lacks, a 31-year-old mother of five.—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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