malicious

malicious — adjective

1. done with the clear purpose of hurting someone or causing them trouble, whether

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

done with the clear purpose of hurting someone or causing them trouble, whether through words or through actions

Example

Yasmin spread a malicious rumor about her coworker, hoping to damage his reputation.

collocation: malicious rumor

The anonymous online post was full of malicious lies aimed at hurting the family.

Common collocations
  • malicious rumor
  • malicious gossip
  • malicious intent
  • malicious smile
  • malicious remark
  • malicious lie
Synonyms
  • spiteful

    Focuses on petty, small-minded meanness that comes from personal hurt feelings; less formal than malicious

  • vindictive

    Specifically describes a desire for revenge or payback after a perceived wrong, not just general ill will

  • malevolent

    More formal and dramatic, suggesting an inherent evil nature rather than a single harmful act

Antonyms
  • benevolent

    Shows kindness and goodwill toward others, the direct opposite of ill intent

  • kind

    Describes warm, considerate behavior rather than hurtful or harmful actions

Usage Note

Commonly describes nouns about speech or writing (gossip, rumor, remark, post) as well as nouns about harmful purpose (intent, purpose). Does not describe accidental harm or damage caused by natural events.

Common Mistakes

The wind caused malicious damage to the roof during the storm.
The wind caused serious damage to the roof during the storm.
Malicious describes intentional harm by people, not damage from natural events.

2. built or deployed with the goal of harming a machine or network, or of stealing

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

built or deployed with the goal of harming a machine or network, or of stealing sensitive information

Example

Ayesha's email account was hacked after she clicked a malicious link.

collocation: malicious link

Daichi accidentally downloaded malicious software that encrypted all his personal files.

collocation: malicious software

Common collocations
  • malicious software
  • malicious code
  • malicious link
  • malicious file
  • malicious program
  • malicious attachment
Synonyms
  • harmful

    Broader meaning that covers any kind of damage, not specific to computing

  • destructive

    Emphasizes the damaging effect rather than the intention behind it

Antonyms
  • safe

    Describes a file or link that will not damage the user's system

  • benign

    Often used in computing to describe harmless programs or files

Usage Note

Used almost exclusively in computing and cybersecurity contexts. The shortened form malware (a blend of malicious and software) is more common in everyday tech news.

Common Mistakes

I think my boss sent me a malicious email because he was angry.
I think my boss sent me an angry email.
In computing, malicious describes software or code designed to harm systems, not the emotional tone of a personal message.

Word family

  • malice
    nounC1
  • maliciously
    adverbC2
  • maliciousness
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Malicious is the broadest of these four words, covering any action or piece of speech intended to cause harm or distress. Spiteful narrows the focus to petty, small-minded meanness that stems from personal resentment — for example, a spiteful comment about a colleague's appearance after losing a promotion to them. Vindictive is narrower still and centers on a desire for revenge or payback following a specific wrong. Malevolent is the most formal and carries a sense of inherent evil rather than a single harmful act. A malicious rumor tries to wreck someone's reputation; a vindictive ex-partner tries to get even; a malevolent character in a story is simply evil at heart.

malicious ↗spitefulvindictivemalevolent

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with malicious intent

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

Malicious comes from Latin 'malitia' meaning badness or ill will, which itself comes from 'malus' meaning bad. The word passed into English through Old French 'malicious' around the 13th century. The computing sense — describing software or code designed to damage systems — appeared in the late 20th century alongside the rise of computer viruses and cybersecurity.