malicious

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "malicious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's intent or behavior that is intended to cause harm or suffering. For example: "The malicious office bully spread rumors about her colleague to try and get them in trouble."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

McIntyre dismissed Gerry Adams's description of the project as a "malicious" plot against him.

The Guardian

The camera can also be downgraded, removing features, or, if a malicious third party gets sufficient access, the app can be turned against you, secretly taking pictures and/or videos and collecting data.

The Guardian - Opinion

Jimmy embodies the backstabbing greed and the malicious side of the game, which is in the papers all the time now about Fifa.

The Guardian

What are they waiting for?" Despite such apparent evidence, the fact that lawsuits were brought against the police for assault, unlawful arrest and malicious prosecution, and that South Yorkshire police – the force at the centre of the Hillsborough disaster cover-up – later agreed to pay nearly £500,000 in compensation to 39 miners, campaigners are concerned over the lack of progress.

The Guardian

Syrian people know that this crusade, this infidel and malicious coalition, is against Muslims, not Isis.

The Guardian

Insp Douglas Lovelock, the marksman who shot her, stood trial in 1987 charged with inflicting unlawful and malicious grievous bodily harm and was acquitted.

The Guardian

"This is a concerted campaign by malicious and despicable individuals to cause distress to Neil Lennon.

The Guardian - Sport

"The legal action has made it absolutely clear that we will not stand by and tolerate malicious personal attacks of this nature, which if unchallenged would have seriously damaged the reputations of innocent people".

The Guardian

Anwar, 60, who led a resurgent opposition to unprecedented success in March's general election, says the charges are "malicious" and fabricated to derail his political comeback.

The Guardian

"This is a treacherous and malicious accusation," said Anwar after the charge was read in court.

The Guardian

"I think this is a malicious distortion, either to continue to destroy this man or to sell newspapers.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "malicious" to precisely describe actions intended to cause harm, distinguishing them from accidental or unintentional harm.

Common error

Be careful not to use "malicious" when the intent is playful or mischievous rather than genuinely harmful. Using "mischievous" is more accurate for minor, playful misbehavior.

Linguistic Context

The word "malicious" functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something characterized by malice or intending to cause harm. Ludwig AI and its examples showcase its use in various contexts, highlighting its descriptive role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adjective "malicious" is a powerful descriptor used to denote deliberate intent to cause harm. Ludwig AI, along with numerous examples from authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist, confirms that the word is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Remember to reserve "malicious" for situations involving genuine intent to harm, differentiating it from accidental harm or playful mischief. Considering alternatives like "malevolent", "spiteful", or "vindictive" can help you fine-tune your language based on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

malevolent

Focuses on the inherent evil or ill will behind the action.

spiteful

Highlights the petty and vindictive nature of the harmful action.

vindictive

Emphasizes the desire for revenge as the primary motivation.

malignant

Suggests a harmful influence or effect, often in a gradual or insidious way.

pernicious

Implies a subtle and gradual harm that is difficult to detect initially.

wicked

Denotes a high degree of immorality and evil intention.

evil-intentioned

Directly points to the bad intent behind the action.

ill-disposed

Indicates a general negativity and unfriendliness.

harmful

Focuses on the damage caused without necessarily implying intent.

injurious

Highlights the damaging or detrimental nature of the action or statement.

FAQs

How to use "malicious" in a sentence?

You can use "malicious" to describe the intent behind an action or the nature of something intended to cause harm. For example, "The hacker launched a "malicious" attack on the company's servers."

What can I say instead of "malicious"?

You can use alternatives like "malevolent", "spiteful", or "vindictive", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "malicious" or "mischievous"?

"Malicious" describes actions intended to cause serious harm, while "mischievous" describes playful or minor misbehavior. The correct word depends on the severity and intent of the action.

What's the difference between "malicious" and "malignant"?

"Malicious" refers to intent to harm, often in actions or words, while "malignant" typically describes something that is harmful in nature or effect, like a tumor. Malignant doesn't necessarily imply intent, whereas malicious always does.