Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense maligns, present participle maligning, past tense, past participle maligned
1. verb
If you malign someone, you say unpleasant and untrue things about them.
[formal]
We maligned him dreadfully when you come to think of it. [VERB noun]
Either the managers have been maligned or they are not telling the truth. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: disparage, abuse, run down, libel More Synonyms of malign
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
If something is malign, it causes harm.
[formal]
...the malign influence jealousy had on their lives.
Reliance on sponsorship can have a malign effect on theatre groups.
Synonyms: evil, bad, destructive, harmful More Synonyms of malign
3. See also much-maligned
malign in British English
(məˈlaɪn)
adjective
1.
evil in influence, intention, or effect
verb
2. (transitive)
to slander or defame
Derived forms
maligner (maˈligner)
noun
malignly (maˈlignly)
adverb
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin malīgnus spiteful, from malus evil
malign in American English
(məˈlaɪn)
verb transitive
1.
to speak evil of; defame; slander; traduce
adjective
2.
showing ill will; malicious
3.
evil; baleful
a malign influence
4.
very harmful; malignant
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsinister
Derived forms
maligner (maˈligner)
noun
Word origin
ME malignen < OFr malignier, to plot, deceive < LL malignare < LL malignus, wicked, malicious < male, ill (see mal-) + base of genus, born: see genus
Examples of 'malign' in a sentence
malign
She is often maligned as a political performer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One wonders what, if anything, can and should be done to counteract this possibly malign influence on future generations.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The poor man has often been maligned.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
And did that essay exercise a malign influence in subsequent centuries?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Yet there is no evidence that any of this has had a malign effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Some of us think that this is a reflection of a collective and often malign judicial conceit.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
All manner of malign influences are only a mouse click away.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Business is often maligned for sacrificing people at the altar of profit.
Christianity Today (2000)
The reason it is often maligned and dismissed is because it takes a lot of work to get right.
The Sun (2012)
Take into account any malign influence the weakness of one big player in a sector often has on the rest.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
But there is no iron of law of politics that decrees that such sentiment needs to be turned to malign effect.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Twenty years ago, modern architecture was much maligned.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
She has been unfairly maligned as being soft on apartheid, which she detested.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
A pope determined to bring his message to the world makes himself vulnerable to the malign intentions of fanatics.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
All the predictions about the malign effect of fees on student applications and on access to higher education for poorer students turned out to be utterly wrong.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
J Greed is a much maligned vice.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Planning, much maligned as it is, is not the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
malign
British English: malign VERB
If you malign someone, you say unpleasant and untrue things about them.
We maligned him dreadfully when you come to think of it.
American English: malign
Brazilian Portuguese: difamar
Chinese: 诽谤
European Spanish: calumniar
French: calomnier
German: verleumden
Italian: malignare su
Japanese: 中傷する
Korean: 비방하다
European Portuguese: difamar
Latin American Spanish: calumniar
Definition of 'malign'
(verb)
Definition
to say unpleasant and untrue things about someone
We maligned him dreadfully, assuming the very worst about him.
Synonyms
disparage
his tendency to disparage literature
abuse
He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
run down
libel
The newspaper which libelled him had already offered him compensation.
knock (informal)
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
injure
rubbish (informal)
smear
a crude attempt to smear her
blacken (someone's name)
slag (off) (slang)
denigrate
We habitually denigrated our boss in his absence.
revile
What right had the crowd to revile them?
vilify
He was vilified and forced into exile.
slander
He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the politician.
defame
He complained that the article defamed him.
bad-mouth (slang)
traduce
They have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots.
speak ill of
derogate
do a hatchet job on (informal)
calumniate
asperse
Opposites
praise
, compliment,
commend
,
extol
,
big up (slang, mainly Caribbean)
(adjective)
Definition
evil in influence or effect
the malign influence jealousy had on their lives
Synonyms
evil
Few people would not condemn slavery as evil.
bad
Eating too much of any food can be bad for you.
destructive
the awesome destructive power of nuclear weapons
harmful
the harmful effects of smoking
hostile
The Governor faced hostile crowds when visiting the town.
vicious
a vicious criminal incapable of remorse
malignant
a malignant minority indulging in crime and violence
wicked
She flew at me, shouting how evil and wicked I was.
hurtful
Her comments were very hurtful to Mrs Green's family.
pernicious (formal)
the pernicious effects of alcoholism
malevolent
Her stare was malevolent, her mouth a thin line.
baleful
He had a baleful look.
deleterious (formal)
Fear of crime is having a deleterious effect on society.
injurious
Stress in itself is not necessarily injurious.
baneful
maleficent
Opposites
good
,
kind
,
friendly
,
moral
,
beneficial
,
harmless
,
benign
,
honourable
,
agreeable
,
wholesome
,
benevolent
,
amiable
,
virtuous
,
innocuous
,
warm-hearted
Additional synonyms
in the sense of abuse
Definition
to speak insultingly or cruelly to
He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
Synonyms
insult,
injure,
offend,
curse,
put down,
smear,
libel,
slate (informal, British),
slag (off) (slang),
malign,
scold,
swear at,
disparage,
castigate,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
diss (slang),
defame,
upbraid,
slight,
flame (informal),
inveigh against,
call names,
traduce (formal),
calumniate,
vituperate
in the sense of bad
Definition
harmful
Eating too much of any food can be bad for you.
Synonyms
harmful,
damaging,
dangerous,
disastrous,
destructive,
unhealthy,
detrimental,
hurtful,
ruinous,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
disadvantageous
in the sense of baleful
Definition
harmful, menacing, or vindictive
He had a baleful look.
Synonyms
menacing,
threatening,
dangerous,
frightening,
evil,
deadly,
forbidding,
intimidating,
harmful,
sinister,
ominous,
malignant,
hurtful,
vindictive,
pernicious (formal),
malevolent,
noxious,
venomous,
ruinous,
intimidatory,
minatory,
maleficent,
bodeful,
louring or lowering,
minacious
Nearby words of
malign
malfunction
malice
malicious
malign
malignant
malignity
mall
Synonyms of 'malign'
malign
Explore 'malign' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of calumniate
Definition
to make false or malicious statements about (someone)
Synonyms
slander,
knock (informal),
rubbish (informal),
libel,
blacken,
slag (off) (slang),
detract,
malign,
misrepresent,
denigrate,
revile,
vilify,
lampoon,
stigmatize,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
traduce,
backbite,
asperse,
vilipend (rare)
in the sense of defame
Definition
to attack the good reputation of
He complained that the article defamed him.
Synonyms
slander,
smear,
libel,
discredit,
knock (informal),
rubbish (informal),
disgrace,
blacken,
slag (off) (slang),
detract,
malign,
denigrate,
disparage,
vilify,
dishonour,
stigmatize,
bad-mouth (slang),
besmirch,
traduce (formal),
cast aspersions on,
speak evil of,
cast a slur on,
calumniate,
vituperate,
asperse
in the sense of deleterious
Definition
harmful or injurious
Fear of crime is having a deleterious effect on society.
Synonyms
harmful,
bad,
damaging,
destructive,
detrimental,
hurtful,
pernicious (formal),
ruinous,
prejudicial,
injurious
in the sense of denigrate
Definition
to criticize (someone or something) unfairly
We habitually denigrated our boss in his absence.
Synonyms
disparage,
run down,
slag (off) (slang),
knock (informal),
rubbish (informal),
blacken,
malign,
belittle,
decry,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
besmirch,
impugn,
calumniate,
asperse
in the sense of destructive
Definition
causing or capable of causing harm, damage, or injury
the awesome destructive power of nuclear weapons
Synonyms
devastating,
fatal,
deadly,
lethal,
harmful,
damaging,
catastrophic,
detrimental,
hurtful,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
ruinous,
calamitous,
cataclysmic,
baleful,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
baneful,
maleficent
in the sense of harmful
Definition
causing or tending to cause harm, esp. to a person's health
the harmful effects of smoking
Synonyms
damaging,
dangerous,
negative,
evil,
destructive,
hazardous,
unhealthy,
detrimental,
hurtful,
toxic,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
baleful,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
unwholesome,
disadvantageous,
baneful,
maleficent,
toxic
in the sense of hostile
Definition
unfriendly and aggressive
The Governor faced hostile crowds when visiting the town.
Synonyms
unfriendly,
belligerent,
antagonistic,
unkind,
malevolent,
warlike,
bellicose,
inimical,
rancorous,
ill-disposed
in the sense of hurtful
Her comments were very hurtful to Mrs Green's family.
Synonyms
unkind,
upsetting,
distressing,
mean,
cutting,
damaging,
wounding,
nasty,
cruel,
destructive,
harmful,
malicious,
mischievous,
detrimental,
pernicious (formal),
spiteful,
prejudicial,
injurious,
disadvantageous,
maleficent
in the sense of injurious
Definition
causing harm
Stress in itself is not necessarily injurious.
Synonyms
harmful,
bad,
damaging,
corrupting,
destructive,
adverse,
unhealthy,
detrimental,
hurtful,
toxic,
pernicious (formal),
noxious,
ruinous,
deleterious (formal),
iniquitous,
disadvantageous,
baneful (archaic),
maleficent,
unconducive
in the sense of knock
Definition
to criticize adversely
I'm not knocking them: if they want to do it, it's up to them.
Synonyms
criticize,
condemn,
put down,
run down,
abuse,
blast,
pan (informal),
slam (slang),
flame (informal),
slate (informal),
have a go (at) (informal),
censure,
slag (off) (slang),
denigrate,
belittle,
disparage,
deprecate,
diss (slang),
throw shade (at) (slang),
find fault with,
carp at,
lambast(e),
pick holes in,
cast aspersions on,
cavil at,
pick to pieces,
give (someone or something) a bad press,
nit-pick (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of libel
Definition
to make or publish a false damaging statement or representation about (a person)
The newspaper which libelled him had already offered him compensation.
Synonyms
defame,
smear,
slur,
blacken,
malign,
denigrate,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
traduce (formal),
derogate,
calumniate,
drag (someone's) name through the mud
in the sense of malevolent
Definition
wishing evil to others
Her stare was malevolent, her mouth a thin line.
Synonyms
spiteful,
hostile,
vicious,
malicious,
malign,
malignant,
vindictive,
pernicious (formal),
vengeful,
hateful,
baleful,
rancorous,
evil-minded,
maleficent,
ill-natured
in the sense of malignant
Definition
tending to cause great harm
a malignant minority indulging in crime and violence
Synonyms
hostile,
harmful,
bitter,
vicious,
destructive,
malicious,
malign,
hurtful,
pernicious (formal),
malevolent,
spiteful,
baleful,
injurious,
inimical,
maleficent,
of evil intent
in the sense of pernicious
Definition
causing grave harm
the pernicious effects of alcoholism
Synonyms
wicked,
bad,
damaging,
dangerous,
evil,
offensive,
fatal,
deadly,
destructive,
harmful,
toxic,
poisonous,
malicious,
malign,
malignant,
detrimental,
hurtful,
malevolent,
noxious,
venomous,
ruinous,
baleful,
deleterious (formal),
injurious,
noisome,
baneful (archaic),
pestilent,
maleficent
in the sense of revile
Definition
to be abusively scornful of
What right had the crowd to revile them?
Synonyms
malign,
abuse,
knock (informal),
rubbish (informal),
run down,
smear,
libel,
scorn,
slag (off) (slang),
reproach,
denigrate,
vilify,
slander,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
traduce,
calumniate,
vituperate,
asperse
in the sense of slander
Definition
to utter slander (about)
He has been questioned on suspicion of slandering the politician.
Synonyms
defame,
smear,
libel,
slur,
malign,
detract,
disparage,
decry,
vilify,
traduce (formal),
backbite,
blacken (someone's) name,
calumniate,
muckrake
in the sense of smear
Definition
to spread false and damaging rumours (about)
a crude attempt to smear her
Synonyms
slander,
tarnish,
malign,
vilify,
blacken,
sully,
besmirch,
traduce (formal),
calumniate,
asperse,
drag (someone's) name through the mud
in the sense of traduce
Definition
to speak badly of (someone)
They have been traduced in the press as xenophobic bigots.
Synonyms
malign,
abuse,
knock (informal),
rubbish (informal),
run down,
smear,
blacken,
slag (off) (slang),
detract,
misrepresent,
denigrate,
disparage,
decry,
revile,
vilify,
slander,
dump on (slang, US),
deprecate,
depreciate,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
speak ill of,
drag through the mud,
calumniate,
asperse
in the sense of vicious
a vicious criminal incapable of remorse
Synonyms
depraved,
corrupt,
wicked,
infamous,
degraded,
worthless,
degenerate,
immoral,
sinful,
debased,
profligate,
unprincipled
in the sense of vilify
Definition
to speak very badly of (someone)
He was vilified and forced into exile.
Synonyms
malign,
abuse,
denigrate,
knock (informal),
rubbish (informal),
run down,
smear,
slag (off) (slang),
berate,
disparage,
decry,
revile,
slander,
dump on (slang),
debase,
defame,
bad-mouth (slang),
traduce,
speak ill of,
pull to pieces (informal),
calumniate,
vituperate,
asperse,
vilipend (rare)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wicked
Definition
morally bad
She flew at me, shouting how evil and wicked I was.