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

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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 California ruling leaves Carter’s malicious-prosecution lawsuit in New York as his remaining case against Buzbee and his firm. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026 Its first choice, commercial American models, had refused to analyze some of the malicious code because of their safety restrictions. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 24 Sep. 2026 His previous charges included rape, malicious wounding, assault and theft, DHS said. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 France, organized the session to address malicious use of AI and the risk of losing control of advanced models. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for malicious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious

Adjective

The film focuses on a psychological experiment that Kaczynski was part of in college, where he was subjected to vicious personal attacks.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026
In the clip, an 11-year-old Breakers player can be seen skating up the ice before delivering a vicious, two-handed slash to the head of a Kings player.

— Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of vicious

Adjective

In the book, MacLachlan recalls being utterly dumbfounded at having been asked to do something so oblivious at best and cruel at worst.

— Rachel Brodsky, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Many of them, including Ned and his childhood friend and rival, Roland, are scarred by their time as youth players, haunted by memories of the sadistic coaches and cruel, competitive fathers who terrorized them both on and off the court.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of cruel

Adjective

The Ostrich Army, though, dismissed the courts as corrupt and, beginning in late January 2025, started to flood CFIA offices with hateful messages and threats.

— J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
But concrete evidence of Clark fans acting in a hateful manner — at least in real time — is severely lacking.

— Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of hateful

Adjective

Rather, the couple’s beloved dog, Lena, was up all night with a nasty case of diarrhea.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Sep. 2026
The latest special guest stars Este Haim as the mysterious Hallow's Eve, a villainess who wants to ruin Halloween forever by playing nasty tricks on kids out looking for candy.

— K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of nasty

Adjective

An analysis of 1,000 tissue samples representing 11 major organs in just over 400 male donors has now delivered a clear map and expression profile of missing Y chromosomes in typical, pre-cancerous, and malignant tumors.

— Mike McRae September 20, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026
According to the National Cancer Institute, esophageal cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the tissues of the esophagus.

— Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 18 Sep. 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 30 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of malicious

adjective

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