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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

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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