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malice

[/ˈmælɪs/]
nounfeminine
malícia
1. The intention or desire to cause harm or evil to another person
He acted out of pure malice toward his rival.
Ele agiu por pura malícia em relação ao seu rival.
2. In law, the intentional and deliberate desire to cause injury
The prosecutor had to prove malice aforethought.
O promotor tinha que provar a malícia premeditada.
3. Wickedness or evil intent
There was no malice in her words, just honesty.
Não havia malícia nas suas palavras, apenas honestidade.
NYC Slang
bad intent, beef, or shade (modern slang)
Synonyms
spiteill willwickednessmalevolencevenomhostility
Antonyms
kindnessbenevolencegoodwillcompassionfriendliness

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
malícia
Standard usage; also commonly used to mean mischief or cunning
São Paulo
malícia
Standard usage, sometimes with colloquial sense of mischievous cleverness
Rio de Janeiro
malícia
Standard usage, often used in cultural context of 'malícia carioca' (Rio's characteristic cunning)
Portugal
malícia
Standard usage; formal legal and everyday contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

malice aforethought
with malice toward none
bear malice
malice prepense
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