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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Recent Examples of malicious
In May, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee warned the 2024 election likely will be the most attacked by malicious foreign forces in American history.
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Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Some can automatically block malicious websites, ransomware, adware, and phishing attempts and even scan devices on your network to flag potential security issues.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Charged with securing everything from the electric grid to the banking system from malicious cyber attacks, CISA also often takes the lead in protecting U.S. elections.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024
Adrian Fontes, the secretary of state of Arizona, says that confidential reports from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have convinced him that malicious foreign-influence operations are accelerating this year.
—Barton Gellman, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malicious 
Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Some can automatically block malicious websites, ransomware, adware, and phishing attempts and even scan devices on your network to flag potential security issues.
—Simon Hill, WIRED, 2 Nov. 2024
Charged with securing everything from the electric grid to the banking system from malicious cyber attacks, CISA also often takes the lead in protecting U.S. elections.
—Simon Shuster, TIME, 2 Nov. 2024
Adrian Fontes, the secretary of state of Arizona, says that confidential reports from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence have convinced him that malicious foreign-influence operations are accelerating this year.
—Barton Gellman, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for malicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for malicious
Adjective
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That forces him to descend the 8,000-foot-and-higher safety zone of the Rocky Mountains, and into the lower-elevation danger zone where vicious monsters roam free.John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
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Scott, the old pro, knows how to give these scenes a vicious vitality that overcomes any thoughts about how the Romans supposedly got live sharks in the water.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The in-person aspects of the contest have remained generally positive, but online, with each new addition, the very nature of commenting on people’s bodies, looks, and attractiveness is basically heavy bait for someone to eventually say something cruel.CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
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Yet some began to blanch at this cruel ostentation.Tim Gallagher, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The report adds to other examples of hateful rhetoric spreading after Trump’s victory.Angela Yang, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
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While Reddit's unfiltered nature made moderating hateful comments almost impossible, both were grateful to have shared the moment.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Good post for a mid- to late-November afternoon: 70 to 100 yards back in timber and along the thickest, nastiest ditch that leads out to crops. 59) Don’t waste precious rut-hunting time.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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Reason for Ranking: Yet another solid (and prescient) premise that’s spoiled by a nasty streak and curious jokes about, uh, Abraham Lincoln hitting on Homer.Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The reveal — that a mad scientist is using a malevolent force to kill people and then bring them back to life — is something straight out of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 29 Oct. 2024
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What follows is a terrifying journey as the Lamberts, with the help of Elise and her crew, come up against malevolent spirits, uncover dark family secrets, and race against time to rescue Dalton.Kelsey Lentz, People.com, 20 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Also, Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose memorably spiteful villain is an IMAX-sized testament to the late actor’s talent.David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 19 Nov. 2024
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Share [Findings] Unaffiliated voters are growing more spiteful toward both Democrats and Republicans.Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Her freshman year at USC was cut short in October 2023 after having emergency surgery to remove a large medulloblastoma — a type of malignant tumor — in her cerebellum.Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 20 Nov. 2024
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Their administration has spent years appeasing Iran with sanctions relief and turning a blind eye to the malignant activity of the regime and its proxies.The Editors, National Review, 4 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near malicious
Cite this Entry
“Malicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/malicious. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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