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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malicious
Following a four-day jury trial in April, Hernandez was found guilty of malicious destruction of a building by means of fire, witness tampering and making false statements, prosecutors said.
—
Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025
The messages often contain links to malicious websites, urging recipients to respond with sensitive information quickly to avoid fees.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Thursday, the agency unveiled its new crypto unit, which is focused on fraud and malicious actors.
—Brady Dale, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Julia Marnin, Sacramento Bee, 24 Feb. 2025
The messages often contain links to malicious websites, urging recipients to respond with sensitive information quickly to avoid fees.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Thursday, the agency unveiled its new crypto unit, which is focused on fraud and malicious actors.
—Brady Dale, Axios, 21 Feb. 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
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More than 80 women went public with horrific tales of his brutal, coercive and punishing tactics, including launching vicious, career-crippling smear campaigns against those who eluded him, from Mira Sorvino to Ashley Judd.—
Scott Huver,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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Rushdie has since spoken out about the stabbing Rushdie, 77, testified in the Chautauqua County, New York trial and detailed the vicious attack that upended his life.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
21 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Even then, the final late twist with the penalty felt particularly cruel.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, Still Alice highlights the cruel nature of the illness, where a person can still feel present while simultaneously losing pieces of themselves, creating a unique kind of grief.—
Travis Bean,
Forbes,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The two central characters, a mild bespectacled middle-school geek named Hal and his hateful abusive bully of a twin brother, Bill (both are played by Christian Convery), discover the monkey sealed away in a round box.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2025
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Indeed, Ye advertised his Yeezy website during the 2025 Super Bowl broadcast Sunday (Feb. 9), which aired amid a days-long storm of hateful tweets from the star targeting Jewish people.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Poles needs to find difference-makers, nasty offensive linemen, game-wrecking defensive linemen, ravenous pass rushers … again, the Bears have a lot of needs.—
Jon Greenberg,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
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Meanwhile, Stacey woke up with a nasty hangover from the night prior.—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There’s plenty of palace intrigue, bloody battle sequences, and a showdown with the Dauphin (a malevolent Robert Pattinson), marking a bold departure from Chalamet’s previous artsy roles.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
25 Feb. 2025
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For reasons unknown — maybe the lil’ guy was cursed by a Roma traveler, or became possessed by malevolent spirits previously loitering in a fancy Colorado hotel, or simply hung out too long with an evil clown who lives in the sewer — the automaton’s musical chops causes mayhem and carnage.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Biden’s mean-spirited, spiteful actions are only more reasons for Americans to vote Republican in future elections.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Jan. 2025
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Iannucci may spin stories of spiteful people, but Iannucci the person is different.—
John Baldoni,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Eyelid tumors in cats are not very common and almost always malignant.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
16 Feb. 2025
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In October 2023, Isabella underwent emergency surgery to remove a large medulloblastoma — a type of malignant tumor — in her cerebellum.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
10 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
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