English Explanatory Dictionary

malign

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Evil or malignant in disposition, nature, intent or influence.
  2. Malevolent.
  3. Malignant.
verb
  1. To make defamatory statements about; to slander or traduce.
  2. To treat with malice; to show hatred toward; to abuse; to wrong.

Pronunciation

mə-līn' /məˈlaɪn/ en-us-malign.ogg

Word forms

malign more malign most malign maligns maligning maligned

Etymology

From Middle English maligne, from Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, from malus (“bad”) + genus (“sort, kind”). Compare benign.

Synonyms

asperse denigrate libel assassinate backbite badmouth befoul belibel besmirch besmear bewray blacken blame blaze blemish blot blur calumniate calumny chat shit chat shite cloud defame demonize deprave depreciate detract dirty discredit disgrace disparage disrepute diss drag through the mud forgab forspeak foul infamize lampoon malign monsterize muddy reproach revile scandal shit-talk slag slander smear smirch spatter spot speak ill of stab stain sully talk shit talk shite talk trash tarnish

Antonyms

benign

Related words

malignant

Derived words

malignancy maligner malignify malignly malignment unmalign
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