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Definition of maliciously

maliciously

/məˈlɪʃ.əs.li/
ma · li · cious · ly
Adjective:malicious
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maliciously Lexical Profile

maliciously Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In a manner characterized by malice; with the deliberate intention of causing harm, distress, or injury to another.

Example

"The competitor was accused of maliciously spreading false rumors to damage the company's reputation."

2

In law, with wrongful, intentional, or reckless disregard for the law and the legal rights of others, without just cause or excuse.

Example

"The prosecution had to prove that the defendant acted maliciously when damaging the municipal property."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for maliciously

• Nearby Words

malibu
malice
malicious
maliciously
maliciousness
malign
malignancy

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from the adjective malicious plus the adverbial suffix -ly; malicious derives via Old French malicios from Latin malitiosus, meaning 'full of malice', which ultimately stems from malus ('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 Maliciously. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maliciously
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