Word
malicious
Phoneticsma·li·cious, stress on the second syllable
US/məˈɫɪʃəs/
UK/mɐlˈɪʃəs/
Definition
adj. intending to hurt or upset someone on purpose. You use this to describe people or actions that are mean and unkind.
adj. characterised by a desire to cause harm, pain, or distress to another person. Often describes intent or specific actions rather than a permanent personality trait.
Examples
“He sent a malicious email to his boss.”
“The company's website was taken down by a malicious software attack that locked all their files.”
“While the initial comment seemed like a harmless joke, the subsequent spread of malicious rumors suggested a coordinated effort to damage her professional reputation.”
Examples
simple
“He sent a malicious email to his boss.”
contextual
“The company's website was taken down by a malicious software attack that locked all their files.”
complex
“While the initial comment seemed like a harmless joke, the subsequent spread of malicious rumors suggested a coordinated effort to damage her professional reputation.”
Usage
Typically precedes the noun it modifies; frequently collocates with 'intent', 'gossip', or 'software'.
Real-World Examples
“Brito claimed that the report about the National Guard was full of malicious and false statements.” “The advertisements are like fingerprints at a crime scene, potential evidence of malicious activity.” Etymology
From Middle English malicious, from Old French malicios, from Latin malitiōsus, from malitia (“malice”), from malus (“bad”). Displaced native Middle English ivelwilled and ivelwilly (“malicious”), related to Old English yfelwillende (literally “evil-willing”). By surface analysis, malice + -ious.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/malicious