Malice

/ˈmælɪs/ · noun

Meaning

Intention to harm or deprive in an illegal or immoral way. Desire to take pleasure in another's misfortune..

Definitions by Sense

1. Intention to harm or deprive in an illegal or immoral way. Desire to take pleasure in another's misfortune.
2. (law) An intention to do injury to another party, which in many jurisdictions is a distinguishing factor between the crimes of murder and manslaughter.
3. To intend to cause harm; to bear malice.

Example Sentences

Your voice positively drips malice.

[…] not only was there no gratitude (which he could psychologically handle) but downright malice showed itself instead.

The question that would have been before the jury was whether Fox committed “actual malice” in airing the claims. That required Dominion to show whether key decision makers were aware the claims were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.

Thou blinded God (quod I) forgive me this offence, / Unwittingly I went about, to malice thy pretence.

Who on the other ſide did ſeeme ſo farre / From malicing, or grudging his good houre, / That, all he could, he graced him with her, / Ne euer ſhewed ſigne of rancour or of iarre.

His paines, his pouertie, his ſharpe aſſayes, / Through which he paſt his miſerable dayes, / Offending none, and doing good to all, / Yet being maliſt both of great and ſmall.

I am so far from malicing their states, / That I begin to pity 'em.

A feeble spirited king that governed, / Who ill could guide the sceptre he did use; / His enemies, that his worth maliced, / Who both the land and him did much abuse: / The peoples love; and his apparent right, May seem sufficient motives to incite.

Synonyms for malice

Antonyms for malice

Related Words

Word Forms

• malices
• malicing
• maliced

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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