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maliciously

maliciously

10 7.1
In a way that wants to hurt someone or cause trouble
  • adverb
  • /məˈlɪʃəsli/
translation icon : maliciosamente
  • She maliciously gave me your number when she filled out her W-4.

Exploit that gap by acting maliciously as much as you can in a short time frame.

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Examples

  • His eyes burned maliciously in a pale face.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Often that kind of misrepresentation is done maliciously, but often it's not.

    Blog text (28)
  • And if it's not fact, why would he use it as information, except to maliciously destroy her character?

  • When he saw his friend stand up, he laughed maliciously.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • But that can also be done quite maliciously for, you know, just getting revenge on somebody who's done you wrong.

  • Edith, she did this deliberately, maliciously, because I cut off communication with her.

  • However, when used carelessly or maliciously, a plot can be highly misleading.

  • If you're attacked maliciously, that's no good.

  • - Did you say— - My dear Mrs. Vale, if you had deliberately and maliciously planned to destroy your daughter's life, you couldn't have done it more completely.

  • He maliciously spread false rumors about her to ruin her reputation.

Synonyms

menacingly
vsmaliciously
6 6.3

In a way that seems likely to hurt or scare someone

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble rather than merely threatening
wickedly
vsmaliciously
5 6.3

In an evil and cruel way that harms other people

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble without moral evil focus
evilly
vsmaliciously
4 8.4

In a cruel way to hurt or frighten others

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble, not only moral judgment
offensively
vsmaliciously
  • Offensive
4 4.0

In a way that tries to attack or gain advantage over others

is about harming or causing trouble rather than only insulting offense
virulently
vsmaliciously
3 8.7

In an angry and hurtful way

is a broader desire to harm rather than just bitter attack
diabolically
vsmaliciously
3 8.4

In a very evil way

expresses harm desire but less extreme or supernatural evil
threateningly
vsmaliciously
3 5.5

In a way that shows you might hurt or scare someone

is a broader desire to harm rather than focused on threatening alone
spitefully
vsmaliciously
2 7.0

To do something to hurt or upset someone on purpose

is a general desire to harm or cause trouble rather than petty spite
murderously
vsmaliciously
  • NSFW
2 8.2

In a very angry, violent way that shows a wish to hurt or kill someone

expresses desire to harm or cause trouble but less deadly
hatefully
vsmaliciously
1 6.6

In a way that shows strong dislike and anger

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble rather than mere hatred
balefully
vsmaliciously
  • Formal
1 8.2

With a look or voice that shows you want to harm someone

is a general desire to harm or cause trouble rather than a threatening mood
meanly
vsmaliciously
1 7.0

In a cruel way that shows unkind feelings and hurts others

is a general wish to harm rather than simply rude meanness
wantonly
vsmaliciously
  • Formal
1 8.2

In a way that hurts people or things on purpose without any reason

is a focused desire to harm rather than general reckless cruelty
malevolently
vsmaliciously
  • Formal
1 8.6

In a way that shows a wish to hurt others

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble without stressing evil intent
vindictively
vsmaliciously
1 8.1

In a way that tries to hurt someone because you want revenge

is about wanting to harm generally rather than specifically for revenge
hostilely
vsmaliciously
1 7.4

In an unfriendly way that shows anger or dislike

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble rather than general hostility
despitefully
vsmaliciously
  • Archaic
1 9.9

In a cruel way that tries to hurt or upset someone

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble without revenge motive
vengefully
vsmaliciously
1 6.8

In a way that shows a strong wish to punish someone for something they did

emphasizes general harm rather than punishment motive
cattily
vsmaliciously
1 8.9

Says things in a mean, slightly cruel way to hurt someone

is broader harm or trouble causing, not only sharp speech
nefariously
vsmaliciously
  • Formal
1 8.9

In a very dishonest or illegal way

is about wanting to harm or cause trouble rather than crime focus
malignly
vsmaliciously
9.5

In a mean and harmful way

is a general desire to harm or cause trouble rather than stated evil
villainously
vsmaliciously
7.4

In a cruel way that shows bad intentions

is a general desire to harm rather than theatrical villainy
revengefully
vsmaliciously
6.9

Doing something to hurt someone who hurt you

is about causing harm without the specific aim of retaliation
meanspiritedly
vsmaliciously
  • Offensive
8.5

In a mean way that tries to hurt someone

is broader harm desire, not only small or petty cruelty
sinisterly
vsmaliciously
7.5

In a way that seems evil or threatening

is about an active desire to harm rather than ominous tone

Antonyms

In a kind way that shows care for people who are suffering

1 4.6

In a kind way that tries to help other people

How Malicious

malevolently
  • Formal
1 8.6
vindictively
1 8.1
maliciously
10 7.1
spitefully
2 7.0
unkindly
4 4.4

Surface Forms

maliciously positive

Morphology

maliciously = malicious (transparent) = malice + ous + ly

The adverb is a straightforward derivation: 'malicious' (malice + -ous) + -ly makes an adverb meaning 'in a malicious manner'.

Etymology

Maliciously comes from the root mal- meaning 'bad' and from malice, which is the wish to harm or hurt someone. So, to act maliciously is to do something on purpose with 'bad' or harmful intent.