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Definition of maliciousness

maliciousness

/məˈlɪʃ.əs.nəs/
ma · li · cious · ness
Adverb:maliciously
•
Adjective:malicious
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maliciousness Lexical Profile

maliciousness Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The quality or state of being malicious; a deliberate intention to cause harm, pain, or distress to others.

Example

"There was no genuine maliciousness behind his teasing, only a clumsy attempt at humor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for maliciousness
Antonyms
View all antonyms for maliciousness

• Rhymes for maliciousness

• Nearby Words

malice
malicious
maliciously
maliciousness
malign
malignancy
malignant

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from the adjective 'malicious' and the native suffix '-ness'. 'Malicious' derives via Old French from the Latin 'malitiosus' (full of malice, wicked), ultimately rooted in '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 Maliciousness. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/maliciousness
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