Malicious describes words, actions, or behavior intentionally designed to cause harm, upset, damage, or embarrassment to someone else. It stems from the word malice (the desire to see others suffer) and implies that the offender takes pleasure or deliberate intent in making bad things happen.
Malicious means acting with the deliberate intention of causing harm, pain, or trouble to someone else. It goes beyond a simple accident or bad mistake; it means someone actually wants to do damage or enjoys being mean.
A malicious person is someone who deliberately intends to cause harm, distress, or embarrassment to others. Driven by spite or ill will, their actions are calculated rather than accidental, often taking pleasure in the misfortune of others.
According to the relevant statute, malice and maliciously both imply that your intent is an evil one. You could act with malice, or act maliciously, under the definition in N.R.S. 193.0175 if your goal or wish is to annoy, injure, or vex another person.
"Malicious" describes any action, software, or communication intended to cause harm, steal information, or damage property. Examples span digital threats, legal torts, and daily interactions:
Malicious people often exhibit a pattern of toxic behaviors aimed at manipulating or hurting others. Key red flags include a total lack of accountability, persistent gossiping, gaslighting, deriving joy from others' misfortunes, and a two-faced nature where their public charm conceals a cruel or controlling private behavior.
The four states of mind that are now recognized as constituting "malice aforethought" in murder prosecutions are as follows:
Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV (New International Version)
Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Malicious behavior refers to any intentional action carried out with the deliberate desire to cause harm, distress, damage, or disruption to others. It is characterized by ill will, a disregard for the well-being of others, and an absence of legal justification.
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious. vicious. cruel. hateful. nasty.
People are malicious primarily as a coping mechanism for their own pain, insecurity, or unmet needs. By lashing out, they attempt to gain a sense of control, mask feelings of inadequacy, or elevate their social standing.
Last updated on February 20, 2026. Malignant narcissism is a severe type of narcissistic personality disorder that combines grandiosity with sadistic behavior. Learn more about the symptoms and how to handle a malignant narcissist.
But while malevolent suggests deep and lasting dislike, malicious usually means petty and spiteful. Malicious gossipers are often simply envious of a neighbor's good fortune. Vandals may take malicious pleasure in destroying and defacing property but usually don't truly hate the owners.
Synonyms for malicious vary depending on the exact nuance you need. The most direct substitutes are malevolent, spiteful, and vicious.
A female villain is traditionally called a villainess. Depending on her specific role or archetype in a story, she is also commonly referred to as an antagonist, a femme fatale, a wicked queen, or a witch.
Example 1: Intentional Property Damage
This is a malicious act because the employee deliberately caused damage to someone else's property (an intentional and wrongful act) without any legal right or excuse to do so, clearly intending to cause harm or distress to the manager.
Malicious people often exhibit a pattern of toxic behaviors aimed at manipulating or hurting others. Key red flags include a total lack of accountability, persistent gossiping, gaslighting, deriving joy from others' misfortunes, and a two-faced nature where their public charm conceals a cruel or controlling private behavior.
Check what behaviour is unacceptable
Someone who is malicious enjoys hurting or embarrassing others. If you're writing a book about good and evil, you'll want to come up with a truly malicious character to do all the bad stuff. Malicious is the adjective based on the noun malice, which means the desire to harm others.
In Christian theology, the only sin God will not forgive is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Described in the Bible (Matthew 12:31-32), this is generally interpreted not as a single slip of the tongue, but as the persistent, willful rejection of God’s grace and truth.
Jesus taught that marrying a divorced woman is considered adultery (found in Matthew 5:32 and Luke 16:18) because he viewed marriage as an unbreakable, lifelong covenant. In his view, a civil divorce does not dissolve the spiritual bond, meaning any subsequent marriage is treated as an adulterous union.
Praying at 3 a.m. is often tied to the biblical concept of the "fourth watch" of the night. Spiritually, it is considered a sacred time because the world is quiet and free from daily distractions, allowing believers to focus entirely on deep communion, intercession, and spiritual warfare.
Proof of malice
Actual malice may be shown in many ways, as long as the claim is properly supported by admissible evidence. Malice may be proven through any competent evidence, either direct or circumstantial.
Malicious intent requires a deliberate intention to cause harm, while negligence is about a lack of care.
We believe the most likely solution is SPITE with 5 letters.