Malicious is an adjective describing intent to cause harm or with deliberate nastiness. It implies malice and malicious behavior, often used of actions or software designed to damage or deceive. The term carries a negative, accusatory connotation and is commonly applied in legal, technological, and everyday contexts.
"The hacker released malicious software that corrupted users’ files."
"Her comments were given with malicious intent, aiming to undermine her colleague."
"The company faced a lawsuit over accusations of malicious misrepresentation."
"In the court filing, the plaintiff alleged malicious conduct intended to harm the plaintiff.”"
Malicious comes from the Latin malitia, meaning 'badness' or 'evil intention,' from malus meaning 'bad' or 'evil.' The English form emerged through Old French malicius, then Middle English malicious, retaining the sense tied to wicked intent. The root mal- conveys negativity across many words (malfunction, malice, malefactor). Over time, the word broadened to cover not only intentional wrongdoing but also actions or software engineered to cause harm. First known uses appear in legal and literary contexts in the late 15th and 16th centuries, with modern usage intensifying in technology and media to describe software designed to damage or to describe harmful, spiteful intent in human actions. In contemporary English, malicious strongly connotes deliberate intent to injure, deceive, or corrupt, often implying premeditation beyond mere carelessness.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Malicious" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Malicious" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Malicious"
-ous sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Say MA-li-cious with three syllables: /ˈmæ.lɪ.ʃəs/. The first syllable bears primary stress. The middle sounds like a quick “li” as in lily, and the final reflects a soft, almost schwa-like 'ous' /-əs/. Mouth position: start with a closed front vowel /æ/, then lift the tongue high for /ɪ/, and finish with a relaxed /əs/. You can reference [IPA] and try a slow, deliberate tempo before speeding up.
Common mistakes include turning /æ/ into a closed /eɪ/ or misplacing stress on the second syllable (ma-LI-cious). Another error is pronouncing the final /ʃəs/ as /ʒəs/ or adding extra syllables (/ˈmæ.liːˈʃəs/). Correction tips: keep /æ/ as a short front vowel, ensure the /l/ is light but clear in the second syllable, and finish with a short, unstressed /əs/ without adding extra vocalic length. Practice with minimal pairs and tap the rhythm: MA-li-cious.
US: /ˈmæ.lɪ.ʃəs/ with rhoticity not affecting this word. UK: /ˈmæ.lɪ.ʃəs/ similar but vowel qualities can be slightly tighter; AU: /ˈmæ.lɪ.ʃəs/ often with a flatter intonation and faster pace. The main differences lie in vowel quality of /ɪ/ and the duration of the first syllable in connected speech; non-rhotic accents don’t alter this word’s pronunciation substantially, but vowel reduction in rapid speech can occur in casual contexts.
Three challenges: the sequence /li/ followed by /ʃ/ can blur into /lɪʃ/ if spoken quickly; the final /əs/ is reduced, not pronounced as a strong /əs/; and the initial /æ/ can become a lax /a/ in fast speech. Focus on keeping a crisp /l/ between syllables, a short /ɪ/ in the second syllable, and a clipped final /əs/. Slow practice with IPA cues helps prevent slurring.
The word relies on a stable three-syllable rhythm with a strong first syllable. The /ʃ/ sound links the middle and final consonants smoothly, so avoid inserting extra vowels between /lɪ/ and /ʃ/. A common torque point is ensuring the /i/ in the second syllable remains short and not lengthened into /iː/. Listen for the clean /ʃ/ cluster and practice with tuned pauses.
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