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
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that blocks victims from accessing their computer files, systems and networks, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
—
Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Even today, in the face of clear evidence that the regime leverages investment and commercial relations to accomplish malicious ends, countries continue to accept Chinese money.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
The ransomware attacks in question started with malicious Google Ads deployed by the threat actors.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Butler was charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Even today, in the face of clear evidence that the regime leverages investment and commercial relations to accomplish malicious ends, countries continue to accept Chinese money.
—Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 2025
The ransomware attacks in question started with malicious Google Ads deployed by the threat actors.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Butler was charged with second-degree murder, malicious wounding and two counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, police said.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
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The original 2006 film, which was adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s book of the same name, starred Meryl Streep as the powerful Miranda Priestley, Anne Hathaway as fashion newbie Andy Sachs, Emily Blunt as vicious assistant Emily and Stanley Tucci as Miranda’s right hand man Nigel.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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Noem are working every day to get vicious criminals out of our country while activist judges are fighting to bring them back onto American soil.—
Sonam Sheth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The reason Evin is infamous is because of its terribly cruel high security detention centers that are poorly supervised by the Prison Chief.—
Jeff Kaufman,
Time,
30 May 2025
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But then perhaps that is her unsatisfying but depressingly undeniable point: there is no challenging minds this small, behaviors this cruel, spirits this mean.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Of note: Your Content must not be false, defamatory, misleading or hateful, or infringe any copyright or any other third-party rights or otherwise be unlawful.—
Will Matsuda,
New York Times,
23 May 2025
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Alpine Formula 1 driver Franco Colapinto has taken a strong stance against some of his fans who have shared hateful messages against Red Bull driver Yuki Tsunoda after an on-track incident in Imola on Friday.—
Lydia Mee,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was brilliant (35 points), and the Thunder defense was nasty.—
Chris Branch,
New York Times,
19 May 2025
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But Laxe’s cadence of death is nasty and arbitrary and delightful.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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Soon, a malevolent fetch -- his ghostly double -- emerges, taunting him with hallucinations of his dead son and dragging him toward the brink of madness.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 May 2025
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Mike Tyson spent half a decade wearing nothing but a towel to the center of the boxing ring, letting his malevolent fists do the talking.—
David Aldridge,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Mar. 2025
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The more spiteful Drake could smell a world of buff, misogynistic grifters taking hold and made sure to set up shop where the audience would be.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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According to a GoFundMe page set up in her name, Phelan was eventually diagnosed with a grade 4 malignant brain tumor that was categorized as a glioma, a growth of cells that starts in the brain or spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic.—
Skyler Caruso,
People.com,
26 May 2025
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Last month, my son reached two years in remission from a rare, malignant cancer that almost took his eye and his life.—
Dayna Copeland,
The Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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