Cool MateMalice vs Spite
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Malice
FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Spite
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B2noun
Most formal: MaliceMost common: Spite
| Malice | Spite | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈmæ.lɪs//🇺🇸 //ˈmæl.ɪs// | 🇬🇧 /["/spaɪt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/spaɪt/"]/ |
| Meaning | The intention to harm someone or cause trouble. | A feeling of wanting to hurt someone because you are angry. |
| Example | He acted with malice, intending to ruin her reputation. | She refused to help him out of spite. |
| Register | Formal | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | with malice aforethought, malice towards others, malice in one's heart | pure, sheer, personal, be full of, feel, vent, out of spite, with spite, spite towards/toward |
| Antonyms | benevolence, kindness, goodwill | kindness, benevolence, forgiveness |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'malicious', which is the adjective form., Using 'malice' in informal contexts where it seems too serious., Mixing 'malice' with 'spite', which have different connotations. | Confused with 'spiteful' as a noun., Using 'in spite' incorrectly in phrases., Overusing it in positive contexts. |
| Usage notes | Primarily used in legal contexts or serious discussions. Not commonly used in casual conversation. | Use 'spite' when someone does something to intentionally hurt or annoy another person. It is often used in negative contexts, such as spiteful behavior, and is not typically used in formal writing. |
Frequently asked questions: Malice vs Spite
What's the difference between Malice and Spite?
Malice: The intention to harm someone or cause trouble. Spite: A feeling of wanting to hurt someone because you are angry.
Which is more formal: Malice and Spite?
Malice is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Malice and Spite?
Spite is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Malice: He acted with malice, intending to ruin her reputation. Spite: She refused to help him out of spite.
Can I use Malice and Spite interchangeably?
Not always. Malice and Spite are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.