maligned

American  

[muh-lahynd] / məˈlaɪnd /

adjective

1. spoken ill of; defamed or slandered.

   I pointed to my unweeded yard full of bees and waxed rhapsodic about the benefits of the maligned dandelion.

   Considered by many to be a usurper and murderer, Richard III is one of the most maligned kings in history.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of malign.

Other Word Forms

• unmaligned
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of maligned

malign ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Oral estrogens have been unfairly maligned, while transdermal patches have been deemed a safer option.

From MarketWatch • May 12, 2026

Ayton, often maligned for his inconsistent effort, has been a force in the postseason, averaging 11.8 points and 10.8 rebounds while often guarding Rockets All-Star Alperen Sengun one-on-one.

From Los Angeles Times • May 2, 2026

Richly talented but much maligned, England captain Harry Brook finally achieved redemption at Pallekele stadium in Kandy after a torrid few months -- and came of age as a leader.

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

In the weeks leading up to Taiwan’s 2024 presidential election, a series of AI-generated videos maligned the departing leader, Tsai Ing-wen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

And I, for one, am tired of the way black holes get maligned!

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows