adjective
Uncommon
malignant
muh-LIHG-nuhnt
Malignant (adjective) means Harmful or hostile in intent; wishing ill on others. Example: “He spread malignant rumours about his former business partner.”
adjective
1
Harmful or hostile in intent; wishing ill on others.
"He spread malignant rumours about his former business partner."
"There was a malignant look in her eyes as she watched him fail."
2
Medically: likely to spread and become life-threatening, as with a tumour.
"The biopsy confirmed the growth was malignant."
"Doctors caught the malignant cells before they could spread further."
How to use malignant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDangerously harmful — either a person acting with real ill will, or a disease (especially cancer) that is aggressive and spreading.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "benign," which is its opposite in the medical sense (harmless, not spreading).
Easily confused with
benign →
malignancy
Common pairings
malignant tumour
malignant cells
malignant intent
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Word forms
- Plural
- malignants
- Comparative
- more malignant
- Superlative
- most malignant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He spread _____ rumours about his former business partner.
Etymology
From Middle French malignant, ultimately from Late Latin malignans — related to "malign."
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for malignant
See all rhymes for malignant →Frequently asked questions
What does “malignant” mean?
The word “malignant” means harmful or hostile in intent; wishing ill on others. In plain terms, dangerously harmful — either a person acting with real ill will, or a disease (especially cancer) that is aggressive and spreading.
How do you pronounce “malignant”?
“Malignant” is pronounced muh-LIHG-nuhnt (/məˈlɪɡnənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “malignant” in a sentence?
Here is “malignant” used in a sentence: “He spread malignant rumours about his former business partner.”
What part of speech is “malignant”?
“Malignant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “malignant” come from?
The word “malignant” comes from Late Latin. From Middle French malignant, ultimately from Late Latin malignans — related to "malign.".
Is “malignant” a common word?
“Malignant” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “malignant” have?
“Malignant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: harmful or hostile in intent; wishing ill on others.
