malveillant

Malveillant is a French adjective used to describe a person, action, or object that acts with ill will and aims to cause harm. In everyday language, it characterizes intentions or effects designed to be injurious or deceitful, rather than accidental.

Etymology: the term combines mal- “bad” with veillant, the present participle of veiller “to watch” or “to be vigilant.” Historically, it signified someone who watches with bad intent; in modern usage it also describes things or actions produced with harmful intent.

Usage: Malveillant is common in both general and specialized contexts. In ordinary French it can describe behavior (for example, “un geste malveillant”), threats, or institutions. In information technology, the expression logiciel malveillant or maliciel denotes software intended to damage, steal data, or seize control of a device; it is equivalent to the English term malware.

Related terms and nuances: malveillance is the noun form referring to ill will or malicious intent. Synonyms or near-synonyms include malicieux in some contexts, néfaste, or hostile. Malveillant typically contrasts with terms that denote innocence or lack of intention, such as innocent or fortuit, underscoring deliberate harm rather than accidental outcomes.