malice

Meaning

Noun

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

Verb

To intend to cause harm; to bear malice.

Synonyms

spite

malevolence

envy

grudge

ill will

anger

💢

malignity

ill-will

hatred

resentment

spitefulness

jealousy

maliciousness

hostility

malignancy

animosity

enmity

viciousness

fury

nastiness

cruelty

rage

😡

bile

evil purpose

virulence

revenge

evil intention

rancor

gall

rancour

venom

resentfulness

evil

mischief

malevolency

sadism

ill-feeling

vindictiveness

hate

😡

wickedness

gall bladder

deviltry

devilry

double-mindedness

criminal intent

evil design

evil intentions

ill intent

sinful intention

vicious intent

Translations

malizia

Bosheit

malicia

malícia

malignità

böse Absicht

malice

méchanceté

maldade

malícia

malignité

Arglist

μοχθηρία

malveillance

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈmælɪs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: malice

In summary

From Middle English malice, borrowed from Old French malice, from Latin malitia (“badness, bad quality, ill-will, spite”), from malus (“bad”).