Desiring to cause pain, injury, or distress to another.
Example:
The boys didn't take the apples with any malicious intent; they were just hungry and didn't know any better.
Malicious and malevolent are closely related. Both refer to ill will that shows itself in a desire to see someone else suffer. While malevolent suggests deep and lasting dislike, however, malicious usually means petty and spiteful. Malicious gossipers may be simply envious of their neighbor's good fortune. Vandals take malicious pleasure in destroying and defacing property.