malign

[ muh-lahyn ]

/ məˈlaɪn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR malign ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object)

to speak harmful untruths about; speak evil of; slander; defame: to malign an honorable man.

adjective

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

having or showing an evil disposition; malevolent; malicious.

Nearby words

Origin of malign

1275–1325; Middle English maligne < Middle French < Latin malignus. See mal-, benign

SYNONYMS FOR malign

1. libel, calumniate; disparage; revile, abuse, vilify. 2. baneful.

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ANTONYMS FOR malign

1. praise.

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Related formsma·lign·er, nounma·lign·ly, adverbun·ma·ligned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for malign

Timor is overjoyed at the malign trouble he and his friends have caused.
The ‘Hunted’ Gays of Putin’s Russia: Vicious Vigilantes and State Bigotry Close Up|Tim Teeman|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For people prone to believe doctors like me are part of some malign conspiracy, nothing I say will make a difference.
Vaccines Are Poison, Cellphones Cause Cancer, and Other Medical Conspiracies|Russell Saunders|July 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She leaves, scared of what she is capable of doing, her malign mentor cackling.
‘Game of Thrones’ Withdrawal? Watch Nickelodeon’s Fantasy Epic ‘The Legend of Korra’|David Levesley|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If the answer is yes, there is every chance that the news will throw a malign shadow over the tournament in Brazil.
Let's Take Away the 2018 World Cup from Putin's Russia|Tunku Varadarajan|June 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After a few years in which Washington has exerted a malign force on demand, it is showing signs of becoming a neutral force.
With the Ryan-Murray Deal, Washington Stops Hurting the Economy|Daniel Gross|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
What right have I now, with death so close to me, to malign the dead!
The Catholic World; Vol. IV.; October, 1866, to March, 1867.|E. Rameur
She could never have dreamed that she had this malign power, but she was now at least to suspect it.
Ruggles of Red Gap|Harry Leon Wilson
Will you malign your native realms and reduce them to a level with the country up-stairs?
The Princess and the Goblin|George MacDonald
No part of the tree is exempt from destruction by the malign bacterium that causes blight of the pear.
The Pears of New York|U. P. Hedrick
It must not become a malign influence to interrupt the course of truth, or interfere with questions to which it is alien.
Charles Sumner; his complete works; Volume 2 (of 20)|Charles Sumner

British Dictionary definitions for malign

malign

/ (məˈlaɪn) /

adjective

evil in influence, intention, or effect

verb

(tr) to slander or defame

Derived Formsmaligner, nounmalignly, adverb

Word Origin for malign

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

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

Word Origin and History for malign

malign

adj.

early 14c., from Old French maligne "having an evil nature," from Latin malignus "wicked, bad-natured," from male "badly" (see mal-) + -gnus "born," from gignere "to bear, beget," from PIE root *gn- "to bear" (see genus).

malign

"to slander," mid-15c., from earlier more literal sense of "to plot, to contrive" (early 15c.), from Old French malignier "to plot, deceive, pervert," from Late Latin malignare "to do maliciously," from malignus (see malign (adj.)). Related: Maligned; maligning.

malign

verb (used with object)

adjective

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Origin of malign

Examples from the Web for malign

malign

adjective

verb

Word Origin for malign

malign

malign