Malice: meaning, definitions and examples

Malice is used to describe the intention to harm someone or inflict suffering. It is commonly used in legal contexts or serious discussions.

• His actions were guided by pure malice.
• The court determined that she acted with malice.

Spite refers to a petty desire to annoy or hurt someone. It is often used in everyday situations with a more negative connotation.

• She broke his toy out of spite.
• He didn't invite her to the party out of spite.

Malignity is used to describe something that is deeply and actively harmful or malicious. It is often used in literature or descriptive contexts.

• The malignity of his nature was revealed through his actions.
• The disease's malignity made it hard to treat.

Malevolence is the state of having or showing a desire to cause harm to others. This word can be used in both general and formal contexts.

• She couldn't hide the malevolence in her eyes.
• The villain's malevolence knows no bounds.

Animosity refers to a strong feeling of dislike or hatred. It is often used to describe relationships or conflicts between people or groups.

• There has always been animosity between those two families.
• Despite their animosity, they managed to work together on the project.

Use 'malice' when talking about a strong desire to harm someone or something; it often implies intentional harm and is common in legal and emotional contexts.

• His words were filled with malice, intending to deeply hurt her feelings.
• The prosecution needs to prove that the defendant acted with malice.

Use 'intent' when describing a person's purpose or goal in a neutral way. It can be good or bad depending on the situation.

• She acted with good intent, even though the outcome was unfavorable.
• The police are trying to determine the suspect's intent in the case.

Use 'motive' when discussing the reason behind someone's actions, particularly in criminal investigations or psychological analysis.

• The detective is still searching for a motive for the crime.
• Understanding the motive behind his actions can help us defuse the situation.

Use 'malignancy' primarily in medical contexts to refer to the presence of cancerous cells. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something very harmful.

• The biopsy showed a malignancy that needs immediate treatment.
• Her words had a malignancy that poisoned the entire conversation.