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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of malicious
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Whether most of the justices choose to tolerate this kind of malicious half-compliance with their decisions will likely become clear in the coming days.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 19 Apr. 2025
These emails might include malicious links designed to install malware or steal login information.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Time to update: Apple has discovered hackers exploiting an iOS bug via malicious media files.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Adjective
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that locks a target's computer files, systems, or networks until an extortion payment is made, according to the FBI.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
Whether most of the justices choose to tolerate this kind of malicious half-compliance with their decisions will likely become clear in the coming days.
—Ian Millhiser, Vox, 19 Apr. 2025
These emails might include malicious links designed to install malware or steal login information.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, FOXNews.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Time to update: Apple has discovered hackers exploiting an iOS bug via malicious media files.
—Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
-
Sandhagen dispatched Edgar with a vicious flying knee 28 seconds into that bout.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
In its most memorable moment, Walker dispatches a particularly vicious henchwoman with a harpoon to the neck.—
Mike Miller,
EW.com,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This is not someone who is going to kill someone out of malice.—
Maureen Maher,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2025
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These steps are particularly important when installing extensions or apps from Google, given the much higher incidence of malice being reported over the past decade from its offerings.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This dynamic has created a cruel catch-22 which forces an impossible choice: register and risk immediate deportation, or refuse and become criminalized for noncompliance, destroying any path to legal status.—
Kica Matos,
Time,
2 May 2025
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Milano’s extensive medical history sometimes feels too cruel to detail; his only full season came as a rookie in 2017.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Noun
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The animal’s blood is drawn and purified to obtain antibodies that act against the venom.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
2 May 2025
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This process helped the research team assemble a cocktail that had the minimum number of components that were still sufficient enough to render the venom.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.—
Catherine Pearson,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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Now, imagine a flood of political images, hateful memes and mocking videos from domestic and foreign sources taking over social media.—
Ernesto Verdeja,
The Conversation,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Mingyang took the center of the Octagon from the beginning, landed hard leg kicks, and opened a nasty gash on Smith’s forehead with a step-in elbow.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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That is exactly what the Giants need: nastier players on both sides of the ball.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Turns out none of them are crazy; there’s a malevolent conspiracy to erase folks taking place across the time-stream and Caleb’s only hope at finding Sara lies in a rebellious young woman named Tallulah, who seems to know all about Detective Stone.—
Josh Weiss,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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In the comics, Bob Reynolds/Sentry has a split personality and his other persona is that of The Void, a malevolent villain.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Mar. 2025
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The more spiteful Drake could smell a world of buff, misogynistic grifters taking hold and made sure to set up shop where the audience would be.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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