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Definition of malice

malice

/ˈmæl.ɪs/
mal · ice
Adverb:maliciously
•
Adjective:malicious
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malice Lexical Profile

malice Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The intention or desire to do evil or cause harm and suffering to another person; deep-seated ill will.

Example

"He bore no malice toward his former business partner despite their bitter disagreement."

2

In law, the wrongful intention to commit an unlawful act or inflict injury without legal justification or excuse.

Example

"To secure a conviction for libel by a public figure, the prosecution had to prove actual malice on the part of the publisher."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for malice

• Nearby Words

mali cobra
malian
malibu
malice
malicious
maliciously
maliciousness

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Old French 'malice', which derives from Latin 'malitia' ('badness, ill will, spite'), from 'malus' meaning 'bad' or 'evil'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Malice. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/malice
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