Maliciously: meaning, definitions and examples

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maliciously

 

[ məˈlɪʃəsli ]

Adverb / Adjective
Context #1 | Adverb

behaving in a harmful way

Intentionally and with the desire to cause harm or damage.

Synonyms

cruelly, malevolently, spitefully, vindictively.

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Word Description / Examples
maliciously

This word is used when someone intentionally wants to harm or cause pain to another person.

  • She spread false rumors maliciously to damage his reputation
spitefully

This word is used when someone acts with petty ill will or seeks to annoy or hurt others out of spite.

  • She spitefully deleted all his files after their argument
vindictively

This word is used when someone acts out of a desire for revenge or retribution.

  • The employee sabotaged the project vindictively after being unfairly fired
malevolently

This word is used when someone wishes harm or evil to others, showing deep ill will.

  • He smiled malevolently as he devised his plan for revenge
cruelly

This word is used when someone acts in a way that shows they do not care about causing suffering or pain to others.

  • The bully cruelly teased the new student every day

Examples of usage

  • He maliciously spread rumors about his coworker.
  • She smiled maliciously as she plotted her revenge.
  • The cat maliciously knocked over the vase.
  • His malicious behavior eventually caught up with him.
  • They were accused of acting maliciously towards their competitors.
Context #2 | Adjective

intending to cause harm

Showing a desire to harm someone or something on purpose.

Synonyms

cruel, malevolent, spiteful, vindictive.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
maliciously

This word is used when someone intends to cause harm or damage deliberately. It suggests intentional harm with no regard for others' well-being.

  • He spread rumors about his colleague maliciously to ruin her reputation
spiteful

Used to describe actions that are intended to hurt or upset someone out of petty jealousy or bitterness. It often implies small, vindictive actions.

  • He made a spiteful comment about her dress, knowing it would upset her
vindictive

Best used to describe someone who has a strong desire to seek revenge and will go to great lengths to achieve it. It carries a heavy connotation of retaliation.

  • Her vindictive nature led her to sabotage her ex-boyfriend’s new relationship
malevolent

This word describes someone who wants to cause harm or evil to others. It's often used in contexts involving deeper, more sinister intentions.

  • She had a malevolent look in her eyes as she plotted her revenge
cruel

This term denotes behavior that causes pain and suffering to others, often without remorse. It is generally used to describe actions or people that are heartless and severe.

  • The children thought their teacher was cruel for giving them extra homework every day

Examples of usage

  • He had a malicious look in his eyes.
  • The malicious software infected thousands of computers.
  • She was known for her malicious gossip.
  • The article was written with a malicious intent.
  • The comments were filled with malicious accusations.

Translations

Translations of the word "maliciously" in other languages:

🇵🇹 maliciosamente

🇮🇳 दुर्भावना से

🇩🇪 böswillig

🇮🇩 dengan jahat

🇺🇦 злонамірено

🇵🇱 złośliwie

🇯🇵 悪意を持って (あくいをもって)

🇫🇷 malicieusement

🇪🇸 maliciosamente

🇹🇷 kötü niyetle

🇰🇷 악의적으로 (악의적으로)

🇸🇦 بخبث

🇨🇿 zlovolně

🇸🇰 zlomyseľne

🇨🇳 恶意地 (è yì de)

🇸🇮 zlonamerno

🇮🇸 illgjarnlega

🇰🇿 қастықпен

🇬🇪 ბოროტად

🇦🇿 pis niyyətlə

🇲🇽 maliciosamente

Etymology

The word 'maliciously' comes from the Latin word 'malitia', meaning 'malice'. The concept of malice has been a part of human behavior for centuries, with people sometimes acting in a malicious manner to achieve their goals or harm others. In legal terms, malicious intent is often a key factor in determining guilt or liability. Understanding the implications of malicious actions is important in both personal relationships and legal proceedings.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,147, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.