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

Striker Youssef Chermiti has improved, along with other previously maligned figures such as Emmanuel Fernandez and Nasser Djiga.

From BBC • May 9, 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

The idea came from C-SPAN Chief Executive Sam Feist, who produced the iconic — and often maligned — cable news debate program “Crossfire” during his years at CNN.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

My mother took note of anyone who maligned any characteristic of her husband or anything associated with him.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey