malice
/ˈmælɪs/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmælɪs/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈma-ləs/ (ame, mw)
malice — noun
1. a feeling of hatred toward someone that makes you want to hurt them, either phys
a feeling of hatred toward someone that makes you want to hurt them, either physically or by damaging their reputation or happiness
The email was full of malice, accusing Ingrid of lies she had never told.
full of malice — describing speech or writing
Olu spread the rumour out of pure malice, knowing it would cost Mei her job.
out of pure malice — motive phrase
Chloe's remark about Hassan's accent was not meant with any malice.
The newspaper article was written with such malice that the editor apologised publicly.
- spite
less intense than malice; describes a petty desire to annoy or wound someone in small ways, often driven by resentment.
- malevolence
more literary and general than malice; refers to a settled disposition to wish evil on others.
- rancour
focuses on long-held bitterness and resentment rather than the active desire to harm.
- benevolence
a genuine wish to do good for others, the opposite of ill will.
- goodwill
friendly or helpful feelings toward others.
文法句型
usually uncountable
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the phrases 'out of malice' (as a motive) and 'with/without malice' (describing how something is said or done). The adjective 'malicious' is more common in everyday speech than the noun.
常見錯誤
2. in law, the state of having planned to cause serious harm or commit a crime befo
in law, the state of having planned to cause serious harm or commit a crime before actually doing it, which makes the offence more serious in court
The prosecutor must prove malice aforethought to win a murder conviction.
prove malice aforethought — legal requirement for murder
Without clear evidence of malice, the court reduced the charge from murder to manslaughter.
evidence of malice — standard legal phrasing
Detective Park found messages that suggested the suspect's malice weeks before the attack.
The law treats acts done with malice far more harshly than those committed on impulse.
- premeditation
overlaps with malice aforethought but is a narrower procedural term, focusing on the planning stage rather than the malicious intent itself.
文法句型
usually uncountable; often paired with 'aforethought'
用法筆記
This sense is a technical legal term. 'Malice aforethought' is the fixed phrase used in common law to describe the state of mind required for a murder conviction — it implies deliberation and premeditation rather than a sudden, unplanned act.