feeling a need to see others suffer
"His cruel jokes were driven by pure malice, since he seemed to take genuine pleasure in watching his friends crumble under pressure."
the quality of threatening evil
"The judge sentenced him to life without parole for acting with such profound malice after stabbing his neighbor in a dark alley."
Intention to harm or deprive in an illegal or immoral way. Desire to take pleasure in another's misfortune.
"The prosecutor argued that the witness's testimony was driven by pure malice rather than any genuine concern for justice."
To intend to cause harm; to bear malice.
"He attacked his neighbor without provocation, acting out of pure malice rather than self-defense."