French word

malice

Pronunciation

IPA/malis/

Meaning

  • feminine nounill will

Example

Je sens de la malice dans ses paroles.

I sense ill will in his words.

Illustration for malice (ill will)

More examples

J'ai senti de la malice dans son regard.

I sensed malice in his look.

Core concept

A hidden urge to hurt someone, sometimes showing itself as a sly, teasing act.

Common phrases

  • regard plein de malice

    a look full of malice

  • un sourire de malice

    a malicious smile

Similar words

malveillance: Malicious intent to cause harm to others.
méchanceté: Unkindness shown through mean behavior or a spiteful nature.
cruauté: Callous willingness to cause suffering without hesitation.
espièglerie: Lighthearted mischief done for fun, especially by children.

Definition in French

Disposition à vouloir nuire à autrui ou à éprouver du plaisir à lui causer du tort ; au sens plus léger, comportement de taquinerie malveillante.

Word origin

French malice comes through Old French from Latin malitia, meaning wickedness or badness, formed from malus, meaning bad.

Usage tips

  • French malice is feminine, so the usual article is la, as in la malice dans ses paroles.

Other meanings

  • mischiefnoun
  • cunningnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • malicieuxmischievousadjective
  • malicieusementmischievouslyadverb

Word lists with this word