/ məˈlɪʃəs; NAmE / adjective
having or showing hatred and a desire to harm sb or hurt their feelings
SYN malevolent , spiteful :
malicious gossip / lies / rumours
He took malicious pleasure in telling me what she had said.
► ma·li·cious·ly adverb
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French malicios , from Latin malitiosus , from malitia , from malus bad.