mutwillig
Translation
malicious, wanton, deliberate, mischievous
Examples
Das war mutwillige Zerstörung.
That was wanton destruction.
Er hat das Fenster mutwillig zerbrochen.
He deliberately broke the window.
Grammar Patterns
((as adjective)) malicious, wanton mutwillige Zerstörung
((as adverb)) maliciously, wantonly He did it mutwillig.
Similar Words
Synonyms: absichtlich, vorsätzlich (intentional); Antonyms: unabsichtlich, versehentlich (unintentional)
Etymology
From 'Mut' (spirit, mood) + 'Wille' (will). It originally meant 'high-spirited' but shifted to the negative sense of 'acting on a whim without regard for consequences'.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone with too much 'Mut' (spirit) and a strong 'Wille' (will) doing something destructive just because they feel like it.