Malicious
Malicious adjective - Having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it.
Usage example: the neighborhood chatterbox has again been spreading malicious gossip
Vindictive is a synonym for malicious in spiteful topic. In some cases you can use "Vindictive" instead an adjective "Malicious".
Vindictive
Vindictive adjective - Likely to seek revenge.
Usage example: be careful not to annoy the vindictive old woman who lives down the street
Malicious is a synonym for vindictive in hateful topic. You can use "Malicious" instead an adjective "Vindictive", if it concerns topics such as spiteful.
Nearby Word: vindictively
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
Both words in one sentence
- As Dory points out: "Whales don't eat fish, they eat krill." Nothing about the whale seems malicious or vindictive, and the heroes emerge undigested and intact.
Source: Predation Is Natural - As Rinder has stated at least once, suing someone because they sued you first, especially if you would never have sued them first, is not legally allowed as it makes your case look purely vindictive and malicious.
Source: Series / Judge Rinder -
Due to the fear that Dennis bullying him would seem like homophobia, Walter has become more malicious, vindictive and determined to get Dennis into trouble, making any comeuppance Dennis gives him justified.
Cite this Source
Vindictive and Malicious. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 15, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/malicious/vindictive
Malicious & Vindictive. N.p., 2016. Web. 15 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/malicious/vindictive>.
Vindictive or Malicious. 2016. Accessed August 15, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/malicious/vindictive.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "malicious" and "vindictive" have occurred on timeline