MALICE


Meaning of MALICE in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈma-ləs ]

noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin malitia, from malus bad

Date: 14th century

1. : desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another

2. : intent to commit an unlawful act or cause harm without legal justification or excuse

Synonyms:

malice , malevolence , ill will , spite , malignity , spleen , grudge mean the desire to see another experience pain, injury, or distress. malice implies a deep-seated often unexplainable desire to see another suffer

felt no malice toward their former enemies

malevolence suggests a bitter persistent hatred that is likely to be expressed in malicious conduct

a look of dark malevolence

ill will implies a feeling of antipathy of limited duration

ill will provoked by a careless remark

spite implies petty feelings of envy and resentment that are often expressed in small harassments

petty insults inspired by spite

malignity implies deep passion and relentlessness

a life consumed by motiveless malignity

spleen suggests the wrathful release of latent spite or persistent malice

venting his spleen against politicians

grudge implies a harbored feeling of resentment or ill will that seeks satisfaction

never one to harbor a grudge

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.