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# malicious

adjective (malicious, more malicious, most malicious); adverb maliciously

«malicious» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Malicious means wanting to hurt someone or do harm on purpose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#m1)
2. A malicious act, word or rumour is one meant to harm or upset someone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#m2)
3. (computers) Malicious software or a malicious link is made to damage a computer or steal information. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#m3)

### In the lessons

In stories a malicious character is cruel on purpose, which tells the reader they are a villain. In computing and online safety lessons children learn not to click malicious links or download malicious files. In law, damaging something on purpose can be called "malicious damage". Phrases: "malicious gossip", "malicious rumour", "malicious software (malware)", "malicious intent".

### Examples

- The witch gave a malicious smile and locked the door. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x1)
- Someone spread a malicious rumour that Tom had cheated. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x2)
- Don't open emails from strangers; they may contain malicious links. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x3)
- The website was attacked by malicious software. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x4)
- It was an accident, not a malicious act. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x5)
- (formal) The court found that the damage to the car was malicious. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x6)
- Her malicious comments made the new girl cry. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x7)
- Their only neighbor was a bad and malicious badger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/#x8)

### Note

It is a stronger word than "mean" or "nasty": it shows a real wish to harm. Opposite: kind, well-meaning, harmless. Noun: malice ("He did it out of malice"). "Malware" is short for "malicious software". Do not confuse with "mischievous", which means naughty in a playful way, not truly wanting harm.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «malicious» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/malicious/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«malicious» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/malicious.html) on Mova free.