Malice
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ˈmælɪs/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Malice is a noun meaning Intention to harm or deprive in an illegal or immoral way. Desire to take pleasure in another's misfortune.
Meaning
Intention to harm or deprive in an illegal or immoral way. Desire to take pleasure in another's misfortune.
More Meanings
- To intend to cause harm; to bear malice.
- (law) An intention to do injury to another party, which in many jurisdictions is a distinguishing factor between the crimes of murder and manslaughter.
Example Sentences
Your voice positively drips malice.
I am so far from malicing their states, / That I begin to pity 'em.
Thou blinded God (quod I) forgive me this offence, / Unwittingly I went about, to malice thy pretence.
[…] not only was there no gratitude (which he could psychologically handle) but downright malice showed itself instead.
Word Forms
- malices
- malicing
- maliced
Synonyms for malice
Depending on context, synonyms include envy, grudge, spite, evil, wickedness, malevolence.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include maliciousness, spite, malevolency, malevolence, spitefulness, venom.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.