malice
Desire to harm
Malice is the intention to harm others or see them suffer.
It implies deliberate cruelty rather than carelessness or indifference: There was no malice in her teasing—she was just playing.
In law, malice aforethought is the mental state required for murder charges, indicating premeditation.
He acted without malice often serves as a defense or excuse.
Persistent bitter displeasure
- hatredIntense hostile aversion
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- spitePetty malicious intent
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
bitterness · rancor · antipathy · enmity · loathing · hostility · vindictiveness · contempt
Advance planning of action
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- aforethoughtPrior deliberate intention
- willfulnessIntentional resistance to direction
- calculationMathematical problem-solving process
scheming · plotting · design · purpose · intention · mens rea · culpability · criminal intent
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
bullying · persecution · torment · abuse · victimization · targeting · hounding · tormenting
Moral corruption or evil
- villainyCriminal or evil behavior
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
- depravityProfound moral corruption
- sinfulnessMoral depravity condition
iniquity · corruption · darkness · fiendishness · devilry · black-heartedness · viciousness · heinousness
Spoken false defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- libelPrinted defamation
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
- rumorUnconfirmed circulating story
innuendo · smear · calumny · aspersion · mudslinging · character assassination · backbiting · disparagement
resentment
Persistent bitter displeasure
ill-will · bitterness · rancor · antipathy · enmity · loathing · hostility · vindictiveness · contempt · disdain
premeditation
Advance planning of action
- deliberationCareful weighing of choices
- aforethoughtPrior deliberate intention
- willfulnessIntentional resistance to direction
calculation · scheming · plotting · design · purpose · intention · mens rea · culpability · criminal intent · forethought
cruelty
Deliberate harm-causing disposition
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- treacheryDeliberate violation of trust
harassment · bullying · persecution · torment · abuse · victimization · targeting · hounding · tormenting · mistreatment
wickedness
Moral corruption or evil
- villainyCriminal or evil behavior
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
- depravityProfound moral corruption
sinfulness · iniquity · corruption · darkness · fiendishness · devilry · black-heartedness · viciousness · heinousness · turpitude
slander
Spoken false defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- libelPrinted defamation
- gossipInformal talk spreading rumors
rumor · innuendo · smear · calumny · aspersion · mudslinging · character assassination · backbiting · disparagement · vilification
- bitternessbitterness, resentment, rancor, acrimony, grudge
- criminal intentmens rea, guilty mind, criminal intent, intent, premeditation
- bad feelingssadness, anger, fear, grief, sorrow
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- aversionaversion, disgust, hatred, repulsion, loathing
- bad attitudesnegativity, cynicism, pessimism, hostility, contempt
malicebenevolence
Disposition toward doing good
goodwill · kindness · charity · compassion · good intentions
malicegoodness
Moral excellence
virtue · innocence · benevolence · compassion · magnanimity
- malignant tumorCancerous bodily growth
- malicious intentPurpose to cause harm
- malicious gossipHarmful talk about others
- malicious complianceHarmful adherence to instructions
- malice aforethoughtPrior intent to harm
- with malice
malicious, malign, malignant, malignity, maliciousness, malignancy, malices, malic, malignance