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.

I think none of the characters in the film do anything with any malice.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 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

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kevin Brazile said there was some "evidence supporting the Robinsons", but "the evidence of actual malice does not approach the clear and convincing standard".

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Prosecutors charged Moore with malice murder because she had taken misoprostol.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

Gollum sniffed at the leaf and his face changed: a spasm of disgust came over it, and a hint of his old malice.

From "The Two Towers" by J. R. R. Tolkien

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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