verb
malign
muh-LYN
Malign (verb) means to say untrue or unfair things about someone in order to damage their reputation. Example: “The former employee maligned the company in a series of online posts.”
verb
1
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."
"She felt she had been unfairly maligned by the press."
adj
1
Evil or harmful in nature or intent.
"He described a malign influence spreading through the organization."
How to use malign
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAs a verb, to badmouth or slander someone; as an adjective, harmful or evil.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
malign influence
maligned by critics
a malign intent
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- maligns
- Past tense
- maligned
- Comparative
- more malign
- Superlative
- most malign
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The former employee _____ the company in a series of online posts.
Etymology
From Old French maligne, from Latin malignus, formed from malus ("bad") and genus ("kind, sort"). Compare "benign," its opposite.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for malign
See all rhymes for 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.
