as in vicious
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
the neighborhood chatterbox has again been spreading malicious gossip
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of malicious
Some theories are deplorable, devoid of any credibility, with the conspiracists being hurtful and malicious.
—
Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
Researchers from Cisco’s Talos security team have uncovered a malware-as-a-service operator that used public GitHub accounts as a channel for distributing an assortment of malicious software to targets.
—ArsTechnica, 17 July 2025
Vaus said the report also concluded that Blain spread gossip, rumors or innuendo about the city attorney of a malicious nature.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2025
Researchers from Cisco’s Talos security team have uncovered a malware-as-a-service operator that used public GitHub accounts as a channel for distributing an assortment of malicious software to targets.
—ArsTechnica, 17 July 2025
Vaus said the report also concluded that Blain spread gossip, rumors or innuendo about the city attorney of a malicious nature.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025
The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have antivirus software installed on all your devices.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
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Over time, this can create a vicious cycle where poor sleep and chronic anxiety feed into each other, creating a loop that damages your well-being.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
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There was a scary moment later in the third quarter when Charlotte’s James Banks III hit Sacramento’s Dylan Cardwell with a vicious elbow to the face.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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A little more than a year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a decision from the Ninth Circuit that determined a ban on people sleeping in public was constitutionally cruel and unusual.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
29 July 2025
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In an inordinately cowardly and cruel act, Rubio stayed away from the department that day, ignoring the men and women whose careers and life plans were decimated by his flippant decision-making.—
Lynn Northcutt Vega,
Sun Sentinel,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Late in the episode, Cartman calls off his suicide attempt after Butters helps convince him that there’s always hope for a return to the world where Cartman’s hateful trollery will again be a minority voice pushing back against the mainstream.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
24 July 2025
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His otherwise incomparable legacy will forever be stained by his hateful remarks about Black people.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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The 5-foot-8, 185-pound Robinson was on the receiving end of a nasty collision with outside linebacker Brian Burns on Friday.—
Dan Duggan,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
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After dropping Monday’s opener to the Twins – following a nasty delay between the top and bottom of the ninth – the Red Sox got right back on the horse.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
31 July 2025
Adjective
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When they are both haunted by a malevolent spirit of bones and rot, the siblings are forced to reunite and venture deep into the forest to confront their trauma together.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
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Internet wags have wondered whether Gunn’s kindliness extends to malevolent immigrants like General Zod.—
Armond White,
National Review,
18 July 2025
Adjective
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Stewart’s switch from his usual snark to imitate Colbert’s buffoonery proved how spiteful and irreligious political humor has become since the left’s worship of Barack Obama and subsequent persecution of President Trump.—
Armond White,
National Review,
25 July 2025
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This dramatic change in the law comes a year and a half after a ProPublica investigation showed how the hotline had been weaponized by jealous exes, spiteful landlords and others who endlessly called in baseless allegations.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Those who are diagnosed with the malignant tumor have a median survival rate of about 14 to 14.5 months.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
23 July 2025
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Oates presents the idea of malignant artistic inspiration.—
Heather Scott Partington,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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