malign

[muh-lahyn]

verb (used with object)

1. to speak harmful untruths about; speak evil of; slander; defame.

   to malign an honorable man.

   Synonyms: vilify, abuse, revile, disparage, calumniate, libel
   Antonyms: praise

adjective

1. evil in effect; pernicious; baleful; injurious.

   The gloomy house had a malign influence upon her usually good mood.

   Synonyms: baneful

2. having or showing an evil disposition; malevolent; malicious.

malign

/ məˈlaɪn /

adjective

1. evil in influence, intention, or effect

verb

1. (tr) to slander or defame

Other Word Forms

• maligner noun
• malignly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of malign¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English maligne, from Middle French, from Latin malignus; mal-, benign

Word History and Origins

Origin of malign¹

C14: via Old French from Latin malīgnus spiteful, from malus evil

Example Sentences

Other far-right social media users took the rhetoric and ran with it, questioning Fateh’s citizenship and further maligning Somalia in the process.

From Salon

They are both the most revered and the most maligned cooks in our culture.

From Salon

We have found links between the secret network and Moldovan oligarch Ilan Shor - sanctioned by the US for "the Kremlin's malign influence operations" and now a fugitive in Moscow.

From BBC

To be clear, Kimmel did not malign Kirk in any way.

From Salon

As conservatives lionize Kirk as a warrior for free expression, they’re also weaponizing the tactics they saw being used to malign their movement — calls for firings, ostracism, pressure to watch what you say.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• besmirch 
• denigrate 
• disparage 
• insult 
• misrepresent 
• revile 
• smear 
• sully 
• taint 
• tarnish 
• vilify