: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Examples of malware in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Surfshark Antivirus helps keep all your devices free from viruses, malware, ransomware, and spyware.
—
Stephanie Barnes, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
That scheme involved operatives impersonating recruiters and executive search consultants on LinkedIn and Telegram and then sending unwitting job-seeking targets standard technical coding tests laced with malware.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 May 2026
Google researchers said this is an example of adversaries increasingly leveraging AI to automate vulnerabilities, phishing campaigns, and malware development.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 May 2026
On the Graphic Campus in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, school administrators detected that malware that can record keystrokes was installed in the computer lab, families were told.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Stephanie Barnes, PC Magazine, 18 May 2026
That scheme involved operatives impersonating recruiters and executive search consultants on LinkedIn and Telegram and then sending unwitting job-seeking targets standard technical coding tests laced with malware.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 14 May 2026
Google researchers said this is an example of adversaries increasingly leveraging AI to automate vulnerabilities, phishing campaigns, and malware development.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 12 May 2026
On the Graphic Campus in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, school administrators detected that malware that can record keystrokes was installed in the computer lab, families were told.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 8 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for malware
Cite this Entry
“Malware.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malware. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
malware
noun
: software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning
Legal Definition
malware
noun
mal·ware
ˈmal-ˌwer 
: software that is designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning and that can be used to commit cybercrime (as by revealing passwords, PINs, and other sensitive data)
Etymology
mal- bad + software
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
