malign

6 synonyms and 1 antonym for malign, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To say untrue or unfair things about someone in order to damage their reputation.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

evil

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

badmouth traduce drag through the mud malefic malevolent

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To say untrue or unfair things about someone in order to damage their reputation.

“The former employee maligned the company in a series of online posts.”

badmouth traduce drag through the mud

Opposites

benign

2. adj

Evil or harmful in nature or intent.

“He described a malign influence spreading through the organization.”

malefic evil malevolent

Opposites

benign

How to use malign

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

malign influence maligned by critics a malign intent

Etymology

From Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, formed from malus ("bad") and genus ("kind, sort"). Compare "benign," its opposite.

Full origin of malign →

Frequently asked questions

What does “malign” mean?

The word “malign” means to say untrue or unfair things about someone in order to damage their reputation. In plain terms, as a verb, to badmouth or slander someone; as an adjective, harmful or evil.

How do you pronounce “malign”?

“Malign” is pronounced muh-LYN (/məˈlaɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “malign” in a sentence?

Here is “malign” used in a sentence: “The former employee maligned the company in a series of online posts.”

What is the opposite of “malign”?

The opposite of “malign” — its antonyms — is benign.

What part of speech is “malign”?

Depending on how it is used, “malign” can be a verb and an adjective.

Where does the word “malign” come from?

The word “malign” comes from Latin. From Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, formed from malus ("bad") and genus ("kind, sort"). Compare "benign," its opposite.

How many meanings does “malign” have?

“Malign” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to say untrue or unfair things about someone in order to damage their reputation.

Related words

malignant

People also searched

evil benign traduce malefic malevolent badmouth

Nearby words

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