MALICIOUS: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for MALICIOUS?

Need another word that means the same as “malicious”? Find 26 synonyms and 30 related words for “malicious” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Malicious” are: spiteful, malevolent, hostile, bitter, venomous, poisonous, ill-natured, evil, baleful, vindictive, vengeful, vitriolic, rancorous, malign, malignant, pernicious, mean, nasty, harmful, hurtful, mischievous, destructive, wounding, cruel, unkind, defamatory

Malicious as an Adjective

Definitions of "Malicious" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “malicious” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Having the nature of or resulting from malice.
• Having the nature of or resulting from malice- Rudyard Kipling.
• Characterized by malice; intending or intended to do harm.

Synonyms of "Malicious" as an adjective (26 Words)

baleful	Threatening harm; menacing. The Florida eagles have a fierce baleful look.
bitter	Feeling or showing anger, hurt, or resentment because of bad experiences or a sense of unjust treatment. Bitter enemies.
cruel	(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering. The winters are long hard and cruel.
defamatory	(used of statements) harmful and often untrue; tending to discredit or malign. A defamatory allegation.
destructive	Causing great and irreparable damage. Destructive criticism.
evil	Of a force or spirit embodying or associated with the forces of the devil. His evil deeds.
harmful	Causing or likely to cause harm. The ozone layer blocks the harmful rays from the sun.
hostile	Showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly. Hostile bid.
hurtful	Causing hurt. Her hurtful unconsidered words.
ill-natured	Having an irritable and unpleasant disposition.
malevolent	Having or showing a wish to do evil to others. The glint of dark malevolent eyes.
malign	Of a disease malignant. Gave him a malign look.
malignant	(of a tumour) tending to invade normal tissue or to recur after removal; cancerous. In the hands of malignant fate.
mean	So small in amount as to deserve contempt. In a mean mood.
mischievous	Causing or showing a fondness for causing trouble in a playful way. Mischievous rumors and falsehoods.
nasty	Offensive or even (of persons) malicious. Her stories are very nasty full of murder and violence.
pernicious	Working or spreading in a hidden and usually injurious way. The pernicious influences of the mass media.
poisonous	Extremely unpleasant or malicious. There was a poisonous atmosphere at the office.
rancorous	Showing deep-seated resentment- Aldous Huxley. Sixteen miserable months of rancorous disputes.
spiteful	Showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite. A truly spiteful child.
unkind	Inconsiderate and harsh to others. He was the butt of some unkind jokes.
vengeful	Seeking to harm someone in return for a perceived injury. A vengeful ex con.
venomous	Marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful. The critics weren t just harsh they were venomous.
vindictive	Showing malicious ill will and a desire to hurt; motivated by spite. A vindictive man will look for occasions for resentment.
vitriolic	Of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action. A vitriolic critique.
wounding	Causing harm to a person’s feelings or reputation. Wounding and false charges of disloyalty.

Usage Examples of "Malicious" as an adjective

• Took malicious pleasure in…watching me wince.
• A hotbed of rumour and malicious chit-chat.
• He was found guilty of malicious damage.
• Malicious gossip.
• The transmission of malicious software such as computer viruses.

Associations of "Malicious" (30 Words)

acrimonious	Marked by strong resentment or cynicism. An acrimonious dispute.
acrimony	Bitterness or ill feeling. The AGM dissolved into acrimony.
baneful	Harmful or destructive. The baneful effects of envy and jealousy.
bitter	Beer that is strongly flavoured with hops and has a bitter taste brewed by top fermentation. I don t feel jealous or bitter.
demon	An evil supernatural being. His eyes are bursting with pure demon.
enmity	A state or feeling of active opposition or hostility. Decades of enmity between the two countries.
evil	Of a force or spirit embodying or associated with the forces of the devil. No man is so evil as to be beyond redemption.
grudge	Bear a grudge harbor ill feelings. I don t grudge him his moment of triumph.
indignant	Feeling or showing anger or annoyance at what is perceived as unfair treatment. He was indignant at being the object of suspicion.
malevolence	The state or condition of being malevolent; hostility. His eyes were glowing with malevolence.
malevolent	Wishing or appearing to wish evil to others; arising from intense ill will or hatred. Failure made him malevolent toward those who were successful.
malice	The desire to harm someone; ill will. I bear no malice towards anybody.
maliciousness	Feeling a need to see others suffer.
mischief	A wrong or hardship that a statute is designed to remove or for which the common law affords a remedy. She ll make sure Danny doesn t get into mischief.
notorious	Famous or well known, typically for some bad quality or deed. Los Angeles is notorious for its smog.
poisonous	Having the qualities or effects of a poison. There was a poisonous atmosphere at the office.
rage	Feel intense anger. His face turned red with rage.
rancor	A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will.
rancorous	Characterized by bitterness or resentment. Sixteen miserable months of rancorous disputes.
rancour	Bitterness or resentfulness, especially when long standing. He spoke without rancour.
resentful	Feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly. He was angry and resentful of their intrusion.
resentment	Bitter indignation at having been treated unfairly. His resentment at being demoted.
revenge	Inflict revenge on behalf of someone else. Other spurned wives have taken public revenge on their husbands.
spite	Malevolence by virtue of being malicious or spiteful or nasty. He d think I was saying it out of spite.
venom	Feeling a need to see others suffer. Her true venom seems reserved for the media itself.
venomous	Extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom. The venomous tone of her voice.
vice	A bad or neurotic habit of stabled horses, typically arising as a result of boredom. Vice offends the moral standards of the community.
virulent	Infectious; having the ability to cause disease. A virulent strain of influenza.
vitriolic	Filled with bitter criticism or malice. Vitriolic attacks on the politicians.
wickedness	The quality of being disgusting to the senses or emotions. The wickedness of the regime.