Maliciously

Maliciously is an adverb used to describe an action performed with malice, that is, with the intent to harm, deceive, or cause trouble for another person. It signals a purposeful, wrongful motive beyond mere carelessness or error. In many contexts, the term carries a morally or legally charged tone and is more negative than words like intentionally or deliberately.

Usage tends to appear in everyday language, journalism, literature, and legal writing to emphasize bad faith. It can modify verbs such as lie, spread, damage, or accuse: “She spread the rumor maliciously” or “The software acted maliciously.” In legal discussions it often appears in phrases like malicious misrepresentation, malicious prosecution, or acts done maliciously in breach of duty.

Etymology: Maliciously derives from the adjective malicious, which comes from Late Latin malitiosus meaning mischievous or intending harm, and ultimately from Latin malus meaning bad. The adverb form follows standard English affixation by adding -ly.

See also: malice, malicious, malevolent; related legal concepts include malice aforethought and malicious prosecution. In usage, maliciously conveys a moral judgment about the offender’s intent and is generally considered stronger than neutral terms like intentionally or deliberately.