as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm
the maliciousness of some Internet trolls led the editor to start moderating comments on the site
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maliciousness
Noun
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In Jewish terms, our own hearts start to harden, not out of malice, but out of survival.—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Jan. 2026 -
Prosecutors could not prove malice in the case.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Its deadly stinger was full of venom, much more potent and deadly than any snake.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
11 Jan. 2026
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In a clip of Pole to Pole with Will Smith, obtained by LiveScience, the 57-year-old actor could be seen on a boat going down a river in Ecuador with venom expert Bryan Fry, expedition leader Carla Perez and Indigenous Waorani guides when the group notices a gigantic anaconda on the banks.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Maliciousness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maliciousness. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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