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malign

[ muh-lahyn ]
/ məˈlaɪn /
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See synonyms for: malign / maligned / maligning / maligner 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:
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Origin of malign

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

OTHER WORDS FROM malign

ma·lign·er, nounma·lign·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to malign

besmirch, denigrate, disparage, insult, misrepresent, revile, smear, sully, taint, tarnish, vilify, abuse, accuse, asperse, backbite, befoul, bespatter, blacken, calumniate, curse

How to use malign in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for malign

malign
/ (məˈlaɪn) /
adjective
evil in influence, intention, or effect
verb
(tr) to slander or defame

Derived forms of malign

maligner, 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
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