What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
despiteful
Example
She made a despiteful comment about his appearance. [despiteful: adjective]
Example
Despite his hard work, he received a despiteful response from his boss. [despiteful: adjective]
malicious
Example
He spread malicious rumors about his coworker. [malicious: adjective]
Example
The hacker had a malicious intent when they accessed the company's database. [malicious: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Despiteful is more commonly used than malicious in everyday language. Despiteful is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts, while malicious is more limited in its usage.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between despiteful and malicious?
While despiteful is typically associated with a casual and informal tone, malicious is more formal and is often used in legal or professional contexts.
