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 (deliberate); Antonyms: unabsichtlich, versehentlich (accidental)
Etymology
Composed of 'Mut' (spirit, mood) and 'Wille' (will). It initially meant 'high-spirited' but evolved to mean 'acting willfully and without regard for others'.
Memory Tips
Think of someone acting on a 'willful mood' ('Mut' + 'Wille') to cause trouble, hence 'malicious' or 'wanton'.