Malicious and malevolent are close in meaning, since both refer to ill will that desires to see someone else suffer. But while malevolent suggests deep and lasting dislike, malicious usually means petty …

MALICIOUS definition: full of, characterized by, or showing malice; intentionally harmful; spiteful. See examples of malicious used in a sentence.

MALICIOUS definition: 1. intended to harm or upset other people: 2. intended to cause damage to a computer system, or to…. Learn more.

1. Having the nature of or resulting from malice; deliberately harmful; spiteful: malicious gossip. 2. Law Done with malice.

If you describe someone's words or actions as malicious, you mean that they are intended to harm people or their reputation, or cause them embarrassment and upset.

Definition of malicious adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. having or showing a desire to harm somebody or hurt their feelings, caused by a feeling of hate synonym malevolent, …

Malicious refers to an action, behavior, or intent that is intentionally harmful or damaging. It often involves deliberate attempts to cause pain, injury, damage, or disruption.

Sep 11, 2025 · malicious (comparative more malicious, superlative most malicious) He was sent off for a malicious tackle on Jones.

Malicious is the adjective based on the noun malice, which means the desire to harm others. Both words come from the Latin word malus, for bad. If someone is malicious he doesn't just make bad things …

Malicious definition: Having the nature of or resulting from malice; deliberately harmful; spiteful.