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definitions

malicious

[ muh-lish-uh s ]
/ məˈlɪʃ əs /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR malicious ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

full of, characterized by, or showing malice; intentionally harmful; spiteful: malicious gossip.
Law. vicious, wanton, or mischievous in motivation or purpose.

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RELATED WORDS

spite, malignity, enmity, hostility, indignity, malice, evil, spitefulness, hatred, hate, meanness

Nearby words

  1. malibu board,
  2. malic,
  3. malic acid,
  4. malice,
  5. malice aforethought,
  6. malicious mischief,
  7. maliciously,
  8. maliciousness,
  9. malign,
  10. malignancy

Origin of malicious

1175–1225; Middle English malicius < Old French < Latin malitiōsus. See malice, -ous
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for maliciousness

malicious

/ (məˈlɪʃəs) /

adjective

characterized by malice
motivated by wrongful, vicious, or mischievous purposes
Derived Formsmaliciously, adverbmaliciousness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for maliciousness
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper