malign

[ muh-lahyn ]
See synonyms for: malignmalignedmaligningmaligner on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)
  1. to speak harmful untruths about; speak evil of; slander; defame: to malign an honorable man.

adjective
  1. evil in effect; pernicious; baleful; injurious: The gloomy house had a malign influence upon her usually good mood.

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

Origin of malign

1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English maligne, from Middle French, from Latin malignus; see mal-, benign

Other words for malign

Opposites for malign

Other words from malign

  • ma·lign·er, noun
  • ma·lign·ly, adverb

Words Nearby malign

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use malign in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for malign

malign

/ (məˈlaɪn) /


adjective
  1. evil in influence, intention, or effect

verb
  1. (tr) to slander or defame

Origin of malign

1
C14: via Old French from Latin malīgnus spiteful, from malus evil

Derived forms of malign

  • maligner, noun
  • malignly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012