different between malicious vs mischievious

English

Alternative forms

• malitious (obsolete)

Etymology

From Old French malicios, from Latin malitiosus, from malitia (“malice”), from malus (“bad”). Displaced native Old English yfelwillende.

Pronunciation

• enPR: m?l?sh'?s, IPA^(key): /m??l???s/

Adjective

malicious (comparative more malicious, superlative most malicious)

1. Of, pertaining to, or as a result of malice or spite
2. spiteful and deliberately harmful

   He was sent off for a malicious tackle on Jones.

Synonyms

• malevolent
• evil
• See also Thesaurus:evil

Derived terms

• maliciously
• maliciousness
• malicious mischief

Translations

English

Etymology

From mischievous, under the influence of adjectives ending in -ious.

Pronunciation

• enPR: m?s.ch??.v?.?s, IPA^(key): /m?s.?t??i?.vi.?s/.
• Rhymes: -i?vi?s

Adjective

mischievious (comparative more mischievious, superlative most mischievious)

1. Nonstandard form of mischievous.

Usage notes

This spelling, mischevious, and similar ones can be found since the 16th century, so the corresponding pronunciation is at least as old. But despite being common in a wide range of social classes today, this spelling and the corresponding pronunciation are still considered nonstandard and often seen as a sign of a lack of education.