malice

[mal-is] / ˈmæl ɪs /

NOUN

hate, vengefulness

Synonyms

STRONGEST

animosity animus antipathy bitterness enmity grudge hate hatred hostility ill will meanness rancor resentment vengefulness

STRONG

acerbity bane bile despite dirt dislike down evil hatefulness malevolence maliciousness malignance malignity mordacity poison repugnance spite spitefulness spleen umbrage venom viciousness vindictiveness

WEAK

bad blood despitefulness implacability

Antonyms

STRONGEST

friendliness friendship good will happiness kindness liking love loving respect sympathy

STRONG

morality

WEAK

benevolence thoughtfulness

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Jurors decided that Grossman also acted with malice and oppression and Erickson acted with malice, oppression, or fraud.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 4, 2026

It emerges not from malice, but from math.

From Slate • May 22, 2026

A group so small, in fact, that its members can be manipulated by the subtly deployed malice of just one man.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 3, 2026

To prove "actual malice", a figure must show that the person who made the statement knew it was false or had serious doubts that it was true.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Otto didn’t sense any malice from the man.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

Vocabulary lists containing malice

The Vocabulary.com Top 1000

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Take the Bad with the Good: Bene and Mal

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The Tragedy of Macbeth

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